C.

The family home

1. What constitutes the family home,
FC 152: The family home, constituted jointly by
the husband and the wife or by an unmarried head
of a family, is the dwelling house where they and
their family reside, and the land on which it is
situated.

(2) Their parents, ascendants, descendants,

brothers
and
sisters,
whether
the
relationship be legitimate or illegitimate,
who are living in the family home and who
depend upon the head of the family for legal
support. (226a)
To be a beneficiary of a family home, three
requisites must concur:

2. Who may constitute the family home

FC 152: The family home, constituted jointly by
the husband and the wife or by an unmarried
head of a family, is the dwelling house where they
and their family reside, and the land on which it is
situated.
FC 161: For purposes of availing of the benefits of
a family home as provided for in this Chapter, a
person may constitute, or be the beneficiary of,
only one family home (n)
3.

When deemed constituted

FC 153: The family home is deemed constituted

on a house and lot from the time it is occupied as
a family residence. From the time of its
constitution and so long as any of its beneficiaries
actually resides therein, the family home
continues to be such and is exempt from
execution, forced sale or attachment except as
hereinafter provided and to the extent of the value
allowed by law. (223a)
4. How Constituted

1.

The relationship enumerated in Article 154

of the Family Code;

2.

That they live in the family home; and

3.

They are dependent for legal support upon

the head of the family.(Patricio vs.
Dario, G.R. No. 170829, November
20, 2006)

FC 194: Support compromises everything

indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing,
medical attendance, education and transportation,
in keeping with the financial capacity of the family.
The education of the person entitled to be
supported referred to in the preceding paragraph
shall include his schooling or training for some
profession, trade or vocation, even beyond the
age of majority. Transportation shall include
expenses in going to and from school, or to and
from place of work. (290a)
FC 195: Subject to the provisions of the
succeeding articles, the following are obliged to
support each other to the whole extent set forth in
the preceding article:

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FC

The family home may

be constituted judicially
or extra-judicially.

It is actual occupation
of the house as a
family
residence
which creates the family
home without judicial
proceedings or public
instrument

(1) The spouses;

If a public instrument
declaring the house and
lot as the family home is
recorded in the registry
of property, it is to give
notice to third persons
of the constitution of
the family home.

(4) Parents and their illegitimate children and

the legitimate and illegitimate children of
the latter; and

The family home is

constituted from the
time the order of the
court approving the
family home or the
public
instrument
creating
it
extrajudicially is recorded
in the registry of
property

5. Beneficiaries
FC 154: The beneficiaries of a family home are:
(1) The husband and wife, or an unmarried
person who is the head of a family; and

GMCR

(2) Legitimate ascendants and descendants;

(3) Parents and their legitimate children and the
legitimate and illegitimate children of the
latter;

(5) Legitimate brothers and sisters, whether of

full or half-blood (291a)
FC 196: Brothers and sisters not legitimately
related, whether of the full or half-blood, are
likewise bound to support each other to the full
extent set forth in Article 194, except only when
the need for support of the brother or sister, being
of age, is due to a cause imputable to the
claimant's fault or negligence. (291a)

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FC 199: Whenever two or more persons are

obliged to give support, the liability shall devolve
upon the following persons in the order herein
provided:
(1) The spouse;
(2) The descendants in the nearest degree;
(3) The ascendants in the nearest degree;
and
(4) The brothers and sisters. (294a)
The Supreme Court Professor Pineda is of the view
that grandchildren cannot demand support
directly from their grandparents if they have
parents (ascendants of nearest degree) who are
capable of supporting them. This is so because
we have to follow the order of support under Art.
199. We agree with this view. The reasons behind
Art. 199 as explained by Pineda and Tolentino: the
closer the relationship of the relatives, the
stronger the tie that binds them. Thus, the
obligation to support under Article 199 which
outlines the order of liability for support is
imposed first upon the shoulders of the closer
relatives and only in their default is the obligation
moved to the next nearer relatives and so on.
(Patricio vs. Dario, G.R. No. 170829,
November 20, 2006)
6. Limitations
There can only be one family home. (Tolentino)
The family home can only be constituted at the
domicile of the family. (Id.)
The house and lot of the family home must be
owned. (Id.)
The family home must be primarily used as a
family dwelling. (Id.)
FC 156: The family home must be part of the
properties of the absolute community or the
conjugal partnership, or of the exclusive
properties of either spouse with the latter's
consent. It may also be constituted by an
unmarried head of a family on his or her own
property.

rural areas, or such amounts as may hereafter be

fixed by law.
In any event, if the value of the currency changes
after the adoption of this Code, the value most
favorable for the constitution of a family home
shall be the basis of evaluation.
For purposes of this Article, urban areas are
deemed
to
include
chartered
cities
and
municipalities whose annual income at least
equals that legally required for chartered cities. All
others are deemed to be rural areas.
The reason for limiting the value of the family
home is that the protection is intended for the
family that best needs it, namely, the middle-class
families, and those who can afford more expensive
homes do not need the protection. This will also
prevent people from providing from putting all
their income in the family homes unnecessarily.
(Minutes of the Committee meeting on June
27, 1987)
7. Exemptions
FC 155: The family home shall be exempt from
execution, forced sale or attachment except:
(1) For nonpayment of taxes;
(2) For debts incurred prior to
constitution of the family home;

the

(3) For debts secured by mortgages on the

premises
before
or
after
such
constitution; and
(4) For debts due to laborers, mechanics,
architects, builders, materialmen and
others who have rendered service or
furnished material for the construction
of the building. (243a)
Even if the judgement that is being enforced or
executed is being enforced or executed is after its
constitution, the family home is not exempt
because the debt was incurred before such
constitution. (Tolentino)

Nevertheless, property that is the subject of a

conditional sale on installments where ownership
is reserved by the vendor only to guarantee
payment of the purchase price may be constituted
as a family home. (227a, 228a)

Paragraph 4 should be understood to include, not

only
construction,
but
also
repairs
and
improvements which may take place after the
creation of the family home. (Id.)

A family home cannot be established on property

held in co-ownership with third persons. (Cabang
vs Basay, GR No. 180587, March 20, 2009)

A claim of exemption must be alleged in the

complaint. (Honrado v CA, GR 166333, Nov.
25, 2005)

FC 157: The actual value of the family home shall

not exceed, at the time of its constitution, the
amount of the three hundred thousand pesos in
urban areas, and two hundred thousand pesos in

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8. When terminated

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FC 159: The family home shall continue despite

the death of one or both spouses or of the
unmarried head of the family for a period of ten
years or for as long as there is a minor
beneficiary, and the heirs cannot partition the
same unless the court finds compelling reasons.
This rule shall apply regardless of whoever owns
the property or constituted the family home.
(238a)
9. When may be sold, FC 158
FC 158: The family home may be sold, alienated,
donated, assigned or encumbered by the owner or
owners thereof with the written consent of the
person constituting the same, the latter's spouse,
and a majority of the beneficiaries of legal age. In
case of conflict, the court shall decide. (235a)
If the family home is alienated, it ceases to be a
family home. (Tolentino)
If the family home is mortgaged, it does not
cease to be such as long as beneficiaries live in it.
But if the mortgage is later foreclosed and the
property is sold in the foreclosure, it will
cease as family home. (Tolentino)

owner or owners of the property, or by any of the

beneficiaries, the same rule and procedure shall
apply.
At the execution sale, no bid below the value
allowed for a family home shall be considered. The
proceeds shall be applied first to the amount
mentioned in Article 157, and then to the liabilities
under the judgment and the costs. The excess, if
any, shall be delivered to the judgment debtor.
(247a, 248a)
FC 161: For purposes of availing of the benefits of
a family home as provided for in this Chapter, a
person may constitute, or be the beneficiary of,
only one family home (n)
FC 162: The provisions in this Chapter shall also
govern existing family residences insofar as said
provisions are applicable. (n)
Equitable v OJ Mark, G.R. No. 165950,
August 11, 2010
De Mesa v Acero, G.R. No. 185064, January
16, 2012

The family home maybe sold, alienated, donated,

assigned, or encumbered by the owner or owners
under the following circumstances:
1) The person who constituted the same must
give his or her written consent;
2) The spouse of the person who constituted the
same must also give his or her written
consent;
3) A majority of the beneficiares of legal age
must also give their written consent.
4) In case of conflict, the court shall decide.
(Sempio-Diy)
10. Rights of creditors, FC 160-162
FC 160: When a creditor whose claims is not
among those mentioned in Article 155 obtains a
judgment in his favor, and he has reasonable
grounds to believe that the family home is actually
worth more than the maximum amount fixed in
Article 157, he may apply to the court which
rendered the judgment for an order directing the
sale of the property under execution. The court
shall so order if it finds that the actual value of the
family home exceeds the maximum amount
allowed by law as of the time of its constitution. If
the increased actual value exceeds the maximum
allowed in Article 157 and results from subsequent
voluntary improvements introduced by the person
or persons constituting the family home, by the

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