Annulment

Hello:
Atty. Jofre here. I understand why you are asking this urgently. A forced marriage is a serious matter under Philippine law, and the fact that it happened only six months ago actually gives your brother stronger legal footing, not weaker.
Let me answer your questions directly and clearly.
Firstly, on whether a forced marriage can be annulled.
Yes. A marriage where consent was obtained through force, intimidation, or undue pressure is voidable under Article 45 of the Family Code of the Philippines. Consent is an essential element of a valid marriage. If your brother was compelled to marry because of threats, pressure, fear, or coercion, then his consent was not freely given.
This is not a Declaration of Nullity case. This is an Annulment of Marriage, specifically based on lack of free consent.
Secondly, on timing and prescription.
The law provides a five year prescriptive period to file an annulment based on force or intimidation. The five years are counted from the time the force, intimidation, or undue influence ceased. Since it has only been six months, your brother is well within the legal period to file.
However, the longer he waits, the harder it becomes to prove coercion, so this should be acted on sooner rather than later.
Thirdly, on whether the marriage is already registered.
Yes, you can verify this.

a.) You may request a copy of the Marriage Certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA. This can be done online or in person.

b.) If the marriage was solemnized properly, it is very likely already registered, even if your brother did not personally process anything.

c.) If it is registered, annulment is the correct remedy. If it is not registered, the situation becomes more complex but still legally addressable.
We always verify registration first because it determines the exact strategy.

Fourthly, on how to file the annulment.
The annulment case must be filed by your brother himself, not by you, because he is the aggrieved party. He must file a Petition for Annulment of Marriage before the Regional Trial Court of the place where he or his spouse resides.

The case will require a.) a detailed narration of how he was forced, b.) evidence of intimidation or pressure, such as threats, witnesses, family pressure, or circumstances surrounding the wedding, and c.) testimony in court. Psychological evaluation is sometimes required, but for force based annulment, the focus is on consent, not incapacity.

Fifthly, on practical and family realities.
Let me be candid. Forced marriage cases are emotionally heavy and often involve family members as witnesses, sometimes even as sources of pressure. Courts look closely at credibility and consistency. If your brother continued to live with the spouse willingly after the wedding, it does not automatically defeat the case, but it will be examined carefully. This is why early legal guidance is critical.

Sixthly, on what you should do now.
Firstly, help your brother secure a PSA copy of the Marriage Certificate.
Secondly, encourage him to document everything he remembers about the coercion, who pressured him, what threats were made, and when.
Thirdly, consult a lawyer immediately to assess the strength of the annulment ground and prepare the petition properly.

My honest view is this. Forced marriage is not something the law ignores. But courts do not act on sympathy alone. They act on evidence, timing, and a coherent legal story. At six months, your brother is still in a good position if he acts decisively.

I am the owner and Managing Partner of Recososa Law Firm, based in the Philippines, with offices in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We handle annulment and family law cases nationwide. We can verify the marriage registration, assess whether the facts meet the legal standard for annulment, and guide your brother through the process step by step. We can schedule an initial consultation via Google Meet or Zoom, or a physical consultation at our office.

If this answers your question to your satisfaction, we would truly appreciate a 5 star review on our LawZana page:

Sincerely,

ATTY. JOFRE B. RECOSOSA
Owner and Managing Partner
Recososa Law Firm