The cost of an Annulment in the RP is astonishing, anywhere between 350,000 pesos up. As a foreigner the lawyers see you as “milk” a pinoy expression. The process can take over 4 years. I paid for my wife’s annulment. She had not dated until she met me and was separated from her husband for 7 years. He committed adultry and physically assaulted her. Annulments require psychological testing to show emotional barriers to reconciliation. So if you are married and get played for your money, house, car, what is the best way out? Guam, an American territory will grant you a legal divorce in two weeks (if uncontested). Guam is identical to the USA. All you need is one phone call to one of their many legal firms that deal with it, where your wife agrees not to contest it. Just Google it. She will because she will want another and doesn’t want to go to jail for adultry. There is always sufficient gossip from neighbours and friends to point a PI to make a sting. Guam has a very long history of dealing with US expat divorces. You have to reside there two weeks. It’s very cheap. When you return go immediately to your US Embassy and get your letter of non encumbrance- free to remarry as proof you are single. Your ex-Filipina wife can register your divorce decree with NSO and get her Cinomar that she is single. Done deal. You are also entitled to a property division that a Filipino lawyer will want a list of all joint property, including houses, everything except the land if your ex is behaving badly. I would also go to your Barangay captain and show him the Embassy’s document stating you are free to remarry, that way gossip about you is under control. Hope you never have to resort to this.
