Republic Act No. 9255 (RA 9255) — An Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of Their Father, Amending for the Purpose Article 176 of Executive Order No. 209, Otherwise Known as the "Family Code of the Philippines"
Republic Act No. 9255 (RA 9255) — An Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of Their Father, Amending for the Purpose Article 176 of Executive Order No. 209, Otherwise Known as the "Family Code of the Philippines"
Data as of July 4, 2026 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
SECTION 1. Article 176 of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Article 176. Illegitimate children shall use the surname and shall be under the parental authority of their mother, and shall be entitled to support in conformity with this Code. However, illegitimate children may use the surname of their father if their filiation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth appearing in the civil register, or when an admission in a public document or private handwritten instrument is made by the father. Provided, the father has the right to institute an action before the regular courts to prove non-filiation during his lifetime. The legitime of each illegitimate child shall consist of one-half of the legitime of a legitimate child."
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 3. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
(Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON
(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House of Representatives
This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 4437 and Senate
Bill No. 2519 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and
the Senate on January 21, 2004 and February 4, 2004, respectively.
(Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES
(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary of the Senate
Secretary General House of Representatives
Approved: FEB 24 2004
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO
President of the Philippines
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
