Civil Code

Preliminary Title (Arts. 1-36) • Title I: Civil Personality (Arts. 37-47) • Funerals (Arts. 305-310) • Use of Surnames (Arts. 364-380) • Civil Registry (Arts. 407-413)

Article 1

This Act shall be known as the “Civil Code of the Philippines.” (n)

Article 2

Laws shall take effect after 15 days following the completion of their publication either in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, unless it is otherwise provided. (As amended by E.O. No. 200)

Article 3

Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. (2)

Article 4

Laws shall have no retroactive effect, unless the contrary is provided. (3)

Article 5

Acts executed against the provisions of mandatory or prohibitory laws shall be void, except when the law itself authorizes their validity. (4a)

Article 6

Article 7

Article 8

Article 9

Article 9

Article 10

Article 10

Article 11

Article 12

Article 13

When the laws speak of years, months, days or nights, it shall be understood that years are of 365 days each; months, of 30 days; days of 24 hours; and nights, from sunset to sunrise.

If months are designated by their name, they shall be computed by the number of days which they respectively have.

In computing a period, the first day shall be excluded, and the last day included. (7a)

Article 14

Penal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory upon all who live or sojourn in Philippine territory, subject to the principles of public international law and to treaty stipulations. (8a)