Supreme Court reverses lower court denial, allowing same-sex partners to be recognized as co-owners even without marriage.
LGBT couples in the Philippines have secured a vital legal precedent regarding asset ownership. The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that same-sex partners are entitled to co-ownership rights under the Family Code if they can demonstrate that both parties contributed to the acquisition of the property.
The verdict resolves a dispute between two women regarding a house and lot in Manila. One partner had attempted to sell the property unilaterally, despite a prior written agreement acknowledging that the other partner had covered half the costs. The property had been titled in a single name to expedite paperwork—a common workaround for unmarried couples that often leaves one party vulnerable.
We render legally invisible some forms of legitimate intimate relationships [if we exclude same-sex couples].
By invoking Article 148, the court clarified that cohabitation laws apply to “all forms of co-habitation,” regardless of sexual orientation. This interpretation provides a new layer of financial security for same-sex couples who cannot legally marry in the archipelago.
SOURCES: Supreme Court of the Philippines Decision, BBC.
This report has been significantly transformed from original source material for journalistic purposes, falling under ‘Fair Use’ doctrine for news reporting. The content is reconstructed to provide original analysis and reporting while preserving the factual essence of the source.
