Frequently Asked Questions

The Office of the City Civil Registrar does not provide downloadable forms. Instead, we offer a streamlined online registration process using our online registration forms, ensuring a more efficient and hassle-free experience

WHY ONLINE REGISTRATION?

As part of the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, we are committed to making government services digital for greater accessibility and efficiency. By allowing clients to register online, we minimize paperwork and speed up processing, ensuring a smoother experience for the following services:

✅ Birth & Death Registration

✅ Application for Marriage License

✅ "Maling Dokumento Mo, Iwasto Ko" (MDMIK)

✅ eRehistro: Batang Tagumenyo (For Pregnant Women only)

✅ Request for Printing of Marriage Certificate (For Solemnizing Officers only)

Additionally, once you submit your application, we will send a draft form of the selected online service, along with the requirements and fees, to the Messenger account you provided during registration for verification. This allows you to review and confirm details in advance, reducing errors and ensuring a faster process when you visit our office.

WHAT IS BIRTH?

Birth refers to the complete expulsion or extraction of a product of conception from its mother, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached.

WHAT IS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

Birth Certificate refers to the legal document indicating the document owner’s full name, his/her parents’ information, sex, and nationality, among others.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

Birth Certificate serves as a prima facie proof of an individual’s age, citizenship status, and identity. It is necessary to obtain a social security number, apply for a passport, enroll in schools, get a driver’s license, gain employment, or apply for other benefits. 

WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE TO REPORT THE OCCURRENCE OF BIRTH TO THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE?

1. When the birth occurred in the hospital or clinic or in a similar institution, the administrator thereof shall be responsible in causing the registration of such birth. However, the attendant at birth shall certify the facts of birth.

2. When the birth did not occur in the hospital or clinic or in a similar institution, the physician, nurse, midwife, 'hilot' or any person who attended the delivery of the child shall be responsible both in certifying the facts of births and causing the registration of such birth.

3. In default of the hospital/clinic administrator or attendant at birth, either parents of the child shall cause the registration of the birth.

4. When the birth occurs aboard a vehicle, vessel, or airplane while in transit, registration of the said birth shall be a joint responsibility of the driver, captain or pilot and the parents, at the case maybe.

WHAT IS LATE REGISTRATION OF BIRTH?

Late Registration of Birth refers to an act of registering a person’s birth beyond the reglementary period of registration at the Office of the Civil Registrar of the city/municipality where the person was born.

WHEN SHALL BIRTH BE REGISTERED?

The birth of a child shall be registered within thirty (30) days from the date of such birth. 

WHERE SHOULD CHILD’S BIRTH BE REGISTERED?

The child’s birth shall be registered at the Office of the Civil Registrar of the city/municipality where the child was born.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO REGISTER CHILD’S BIRTH?

A. Birth occurred in Hospital or Lying-In

Parents must bring a copy of the birth certificate prepared by the hospital or lying-in to the Office of the City/Municipal Civil Registrar.

B. Birth occurred in any other place other than Hospitals or Lying-In

Parents shall personally register the child’s birth to the Office of the City/Municipal Civil Registrar and must provide the required information thereto.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER CHILD’S BIRTH?

For requirements, click this link: https://www.ccrotagum.com/our-services/birth/requirements

WHAT IS “eREHISTRO: BATANG TAGUMENYO”?

“eREHISTRO: BATANG TAGUMENYO” is the newest digital innovation developed by the Office of the City Civil Registrar  of Tagum that allows pregnant women to pre-register their unborn child at www. ccrotagum.com in preparation of birth.

Through this innovation, clerical mistakes committed by hospital or lying-in staffs by reason of inadvertence or inaccurate information given by parents can be avoided.

WHO CAN REQUEST A PERSON’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

1. The document owner, or any person authorized by him in a Special Power of Attorney;

2. His spouse, his parent or parents, his direct descendants, or guardian of institution legally in-charge of him, if he is a minor;

3. The court or proper public official whenever absolutely necessary in administrative, judicial or other official proceedings to determine the identity of the child's parents or other circumstances surrounding his birth; and

4. In case of person's death, the nearest relative or kin.

WHAT IS DEATH?

Death is the “permanent disappearance of evidence of life” at any time after live birth has taken place.

On the other hand, Fetal Death refers to the “death prior to the complete expulsion of a product of conception, irrespective of the period of pregnancy”. The death is indicated by the fact that after such separation, the fetus does not breathe nor show any other evidence of life, such as the beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles.

WHAT IS A DEATH CERTIFICATE?

Death Certificate refers to the legal document containing the most important details of person’s demise such as date, cause and place of person’s death, among others. 

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF DEATH CERTIFICATE?

Death Certificate serves as a prima facie proof of a person’s death. It is also considered as the official report and announcement of the date, cause, and place of the person’s death.

WHO SHALL REGISTER THE PERSON’S DEATH?

It shall be the responsibility of the nearest relative or person who has knowledge of the death to report the same.

WHEN SHALL A PERSON’S DEATH BE REGISTERED?

The birth of a child shall be registered within thirty (30) days from the date of such birth. 

WHERE TO REGISTER A PERSON’S DEATH BE REGISTERED?

Registration shall be made in the Office of the Civil Registrar of the city/municipality where the death occurred.

HOW TO REGISTER A PERSON’S DEATH?

The nearest relative must bring a copy of the death certificate, prepared by the last attending physician or administrator of the hospital or clinic where the deceased died, and register the same to the Office of the Civil Registrar of the city/municipality where the death occurred.

However, for deaths happened in Tagum City, relatives may access the official website of the Office of the City Civil Registrar through https://www.ccrotagum.com/death to initially register such death to avoid the registration of erroneous entries.

WHAT IS A MARRIAGE LICENSE?

A marriage license refers to a legal document issued by the Local Civil Registrar,  after ascertaining the legal capacity of the applicant-couple and upon compliance with the requirements provided by law, which authorizes a couple to formally enter into a contract of marriage.

Being one of the formal requirements to enter into a valid marriage, marriage license cannot be dispensed with except in those circumstances provided by law.

WHAT ARE THE INSTANCES WHEN THE MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENT BE DISPENSED WITH?

The following are marriages that are exempt from marriage license requirement:

1. Marriages in articulo mortis or at the point of death, which include marriages:

a. in case either or both of the contracting parties are at the point of death (Art. 27, FC);

b. solemnized by a ship captain or airplane pilot (Art. 31, FC);

c. within zones of military operation and solemnized by a military commander of a unit, who is a commissioned officer (Art. 32, FC). 

2. Marriages in remote places where there are no means of transportation to enable the party to personally appear before the local civil registrar (Art. 28, FC);

3. Marriage between Muslims or Members of Ethnic Cultural Communities provided that they are solemnized in accordance with their customs, rites, or practices (Art. 33, FC); and

4. Legal Ratification of Marital Cohabitation wherein the contracting parties lived together as husband and wife for at least five (5) years and without any legal impediment to marry each other (Art. 34, FC). However, an Affidavit of Cohabitation shall be executed by the contracting parties in lieu of the marriage license. 

WHO CAN FILE AN APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE?

Any couple who have met the following qualifications may file an application for marriage license:

1. Male and female couple;

2. Free from any legal impediments; 

3. Not relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity; and 

4. At least 18 years of age.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF MARRIAGE LICENSE?

For requirements, click this link: https://www.ccrotagum.com/our-services/marriage/requirements

WHERE TO APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE?

Couple-applicants may personally apply for a marriage license at the local civil registry office where one of them habitually resides or domiciled.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF MARRIAGE LICENSE?

For requirements, click this link: https://www.ccrotagum.com/our-services/marriage/requirements

WHAT IS THE PERIOD OF VALIDITY OF THE MARRIAGE LICENSE?

The marriage license shall be valid in any part of the Philippines for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of issue, and shall be deemed automatically cancelled at the expiration of the said period if the contracting parties have not made use of it. The expiry date shall be stamped in bold characters on the face of every license issued. (Art. 20, FC)

WHAT IS THE EFFECT IF THE MARRIAGE WAS SOLEMNIZED WITHOUT A VALID MARRIAGE LICENSE?

The absence of marriage license will render the marriage void from the beginning. (Art. 4, FC)

HOW LONG MUST THE NOTICE BE POSTED?

The Notice shall be posted for 10 consecutive days on a bulletin board outside the office of the Civil Registrar located in a conspicuous place within the building and accessible to the general public.

HOW MUCH IS THE MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICATION FEE?

For fees, click this link: https://www.ccrotagum.com/our-services/marriage/fees

WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation.  (Art. 1 of the Family Code of the Philippines)

WHAT ARE THE REQUISITES OF MARRIAGE?

The Family Code (FC) of the Philippines specifies the essential and formal requisites of marriage, to wit:

1. Essential Requisites (Art. 2, FC):

a. Legal capacity of the contracting parties who must be a male and a female; and

b. Consent freely given in the presence of the solemnizing officer. 

2. Formal Requisites (Art. 3, FC):

a. Authority of the solemnizing officer;

b. A valid marriage license; and

c. A marriage ceremony which takes place with the appearance of the contracting parties before the solemnizing officer and their personal declaration that they take each other as husband and wife in the presence of not less than two witnesses of legal age

WHAT ARE THE MARRIAGES THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENT?

The following are marriages that are exempt from marriage license requirement:

1. Marriages in articulo mortis or at the point of death, which include marriages:

a. in case either or both of the contracting parties are at the point of death (Art. 27, FC);

b. solemnized by a ship captain or airplane pilot (Art. 31, FC);

c. within zones of military operation and solemnized by a military commander of a unit, who is a commissioned officer (Art. 32, FC). 

2. Marriages in remote places where there are no means of transportation to enable the party to personally appear before the local civil registrar (Art. 28, FC);

3. Marriage between Muslims or Members of Ethnic Cultural Communities provided that they are solemnized in accordance with their customs, rites, or practices (Art. 33, FC); and

4. Legal Ratification of Marital Cohabitation wherein the contracting parties lived together as husband and wife for at least five (5) years and without any legal impediment to marry each other (Art. 34, FC). However, an Affidavit of Cohabitation shall be executed by the contracting parties in lieu of the marriage license. 

WHAT IS A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE?

A Marriage Certificate is a legal document containing the important details of marriage, such as complete names of the husband and wife, place of marriage, and date of marriage, which must be signed by the newly-wed couple, solemnizing officer and their witnesses of legal age during the marriage ceremony.

The Marriage Certificate may also be used as a prima facie proof of marital union. Thus, it may serve as primary evidence to raise the status of the children from illegitimate to legitimated, to change the civil status of a person from single to married, and to change the wife’s surname, among others. 

WHAT ARE THE LEGAL EFFECTS OF MARRIAGE?

The following are the legal effects of marriage:

1. Children conceived or born during the marriage of the parents are legitimate; (Art. 164, FC)

2. Spouses: 

a. shall be obliged to live together, observe mutual love, respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support; (Art. 68, FC)

b. are jointly responsible for the support of the family; (Art. 70, FC)

c. shall be governed by the property relations as provided by law or as agreed upon in the marriage settlement executed before the marriage; (Art. 74, FC) and

d. shall exercise joint parental authority and responsibility over the persons and properties of their unemancipated children; (Art. 209, FC)

WHAT IS THE DUTY OF THE SOLEMNIZING OFFICER AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE CEREMONY?

After performing the marriage ceremony, the solemnizing officer has the duty to submit copies of the marriage certificate not later than fifteen (15) days after the marriage to the Local Civil Registry Office of the place where the marriage was solemnized. (Art. 23, FC)

WHEN SHALL THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE BE REGISTERED?

The Marriage Certificate shall be registered within fifteen (15) days following the celebration of the marriage. 

However, marriages that are exempt from marriage license shall be registered within thirty (30) days from the date of marriage.

WHERE SHALL THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE BE REGISTERED?

The Marriage Certificate shall be registered at the Local Civil Registry Office of the place where the marriage was solemnized.