Castro v. Castro

Summary

This case involved the validity of a 1995 marriage between former sweethearts who used a false affidavit claiming five years of cohabitation to circumvent marriage license requirements, and the subsequent support obligation for their child. The Supreme Court held that trial courts have jurisdiction to determine marriage validity in support actions through collateral attack. The Court declared the marriage void ab initio due to the false affidavit and absence of a valid marriage license, as the parties never actually cohabited as required by law. However, based on the birth certificate, petitioner's own admissions, and other evidence, the Court confirmed petitioner's paternity and declared the child illegitimate but entitled to support. The decision clarified that void marriages may be collaterally attacked in proceedings where marriage validity is essential to the case determination.