REPUBLIC ACT NO.

9048
[March 22, 2001]

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OR THE CONSUL GENERAL
TO CORRECT A CLERICAL OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN AN ENTRY AND/OR CHANGE OF FIRST
NAME OR NICKNAME IN THE CIVIL REGISTER WITHOUT NEED OF A JUDICIAL ORDER,
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLES 376 AND 412 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

Section 1. Authority to Correct Clerical or Typographical Error and Change of First Name or
Nickname. — No entry in a civil register shall be changed or corrected without a judicial order;
except for clerical or typographical errors and change of first name or nickname which can be
corrected or changed by concerned city or municipal civil registrar or consul general in
accordance with the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

Sec. 2. Definitions of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(1) "City or municipal civil registrar" refers to the head of the local civil registry office of the city
or municipality, as the case may be, who is appointed as such by the city or municipal mayor in
accordance with the provisions of existing laws.

(2) "Petitioner" refers to a natural person filing the petition and who has direct and personal
interest in the correction of a clerical or typographical error in an entry or change of first name
or nickname in the civil register.

(3) "Clerical or typographical error" refers to a mistake committed in the performance of clerical
work in writing, copying, transcribing or typing an entry in the civil register that is harmless and
innocuous, such as misspelled name or misspelled place of birth or the like, which is visible to
the eyes or obvious to the understanding, and can be corrected or changed only by reference to
other existing record or records: Provided, however, That no correction must involve the
change of nationality, age, status or sex of the petitioner.

(4) "Civil register" refers to the various registry books and related certificates and documents
kept in the archives of the local civil registry offices, Philippine Consulates and of the Office of
the Civil Register General.

(5) "Civil registrar general" refers to the administrator of the National Statistics Office which is
the agency mandated to carry out and administer the provision of laws on civil registration.

(6) "First name" refers to a name or nickname given to a person which may consist of one or
more names in addition to the middle and last names.
Sec. 3. Who may File the Petition and Where. — Any person having direct and personal interest
in the correction of a clerical or typographical error in an entry and/or change of first name or
nickname in the civil register may file, in person, a verified petition with the local civil registry
office of the city or municipality where the record being sought to be corrected or changed is
kept.

In case the petitioner has already migrated to another place in the country and it would not be
practical for such party, in terms of transportation expenses, time and effort to appear in
person before the local civil registrar keeping the documents to be corrected or changed, the
petition may be filed, in person, with the local civil registrar of the place where the interested
party is presently residing or domiciled. The two (2) local civil registrars concerned will then
communicate to facilitate the processing of the petition.

Citizens of the Philippines who are presently residing or domiciled in foreign countries may file
their petition, in person, with the nearest Philippine Consulates.

The petitions filed with the city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general shall be
processed in accordance with this Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

All petitions for the correction of clerical or typographical errors and/or change of first names
or nicknames may be availed of only once.

Sec. 4. Grounds for Change of First Name or Nickname. — The petition for change of first name
or nickname may be allowed in any of the following cases:

(1) The petitioner finds the first name or nickname to be ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or
extremely difficult to write or pronounce;

(2) The new first name or nickname has been habitually and continuously used by the petitioner
and he has been publicly known by the first name or nickname in the community; or

(3) The change will avoid confusion.

Sec. 5. Form and Contents of the Petition. — The petition shall be in the form of an affidavit,
subscribed and sworn to before any person authorized by law to administer oaths. The affidavit
shall set forth facts necessary to establish the merits of the petition and shall show affirmatively
that the petitioner is competent to testify to the matters stated. The petitioner shall state the
particular erroneous entry or entries which are sought to be corrected and/or the change
sought to be made.

The petition shall be supported with the following documents:

(1) A certified true machine copy of the certificate or of the page or of the registry book
containing the entry or entries sought to be corrected or changed;

(2) At least two (2) public or private documents showing the correct entry or entries upon
which the correction or change shall be based; and
(3) other documents which the petitioner or the city or municipal civil registrar, or the consul
general may consider relevant and necessary for the approval of the petition.

In case of change of first name or nickname, the petition shall likewise be supported with the
documents mentioned in the immediately preceding paragraph. In addition, the petition shall
be published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation. Furthermore, the petitioner shall submit a certification from the appropriate law
enforcement agencies that he has no pending case or no criminal record.

The petition and its supporting papers shall be filed in three (3) copies to be distributed as
follows: first copy to the concerned city or municipal civil registrar, or the consul
general; second copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar General; and the third copy to the
petitioner.

Sec. 6. Duties of the City of Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General.— The city or
municipal civil registrar or the consul general to whom the petition is presented shall examine
the petition and its supporting documents. He shall post the petition in a conspicuous place
provided for the purpose for ten (10) consecutive days after he finds the petition and its
supporting documents sufficient in form and substance.

The city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general shall act on the petition and shall
render a decision not later than five (5) working days after the completion of the posting and/or
publication requirement. He shall transmit a copy of his decision together with the records of
the proceedings to the Office of the Civil Registrar General within five (5) working days from the
date of the decision.

Sec. 7. Duties and Powers of the Civil Registrar General. — The civil registrar general shall,
within ten (10) working days from receipt of the decision granting a petition, exercise the
power to impugn such decision by way of an objection based on the following grounds:

(1) The error is not clerical or typographical;

(2) The correction of an entry or entries in the civil register is substantial or controversial as it
effects the civil status of a person; or

(3) The basis used in changing the first name or nickname of a person does not fall under
Section 4.

The civil registrar general shall immediately notify the city or municipal civil registrar or the
consul general of the action taken on the decision. Upon receipt of the notice thereof, the city
or municipal civil registrar or the consul general shall notify the petitioner of such action.

The petitioner may seek reconsideration with the civil registrar general or file the appropriate
petition with the proper court.
If the civil registrar general fails to exercise his power to impugn the decision of the city or
municipal registrar or of the consul general within the period prescribed herein, such decision
shall become final and executory.

Where the petition is denied by the city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general, the
petitioner may either appeal the decision to the civil registrar general or file the appropriate
petition with the proper court.

Sec. 8. Payment of Fees. — The city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general shall be
authorized to collect reasonable fees as a condition for accepting the petition. An indigent
petitioner shall be exempt from the payment of the said fee.

Sec. 9. Penalty Clause. — A person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon
conviction, be penalized by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than
twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

In addition, if the offender is a government official or employee, he shall suffer the penalties
provided under civil service laws, rules and regulations.

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The civil registrar general shall, in consultation
with the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Supreme
Court Administrator, the University of the Philippines Law Center and the Philippine Association
of Civil Registrars, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act not later than three (3) months from the effectivity of this law.

Sec. 11. Retroactivity Clause. — This Act shall have retroactive effect insofar as it does not
prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights in accordance with the Civil Code and other laws.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared void or
unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions thereof shall not be affected by such
declaration.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other issuances, or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Sec. 14. Effectivitiy Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
 Approved:

(Sgd.) AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR.

President of the Senate

(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 9797 and Senate Bill No. 2159 was finally
passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 7, 2001 and February 8,
2001, respectively.

(Sgd.) LUTGARDO B. BARBO

Secretary of the Senate

(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO

Secretary-General
House of Representatives

Approved: March 22, 2001.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines
 Republic Act No. 386
June 18, 1949

The Civil Code of the Philippines

AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND INSTITUTE THE CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
PRELIMINARY TITLE

CHAPTER I
EFFECT AND APPLICATION OF LAWS

Article 1. This Act shall be known as the "Civil Code of the Philippines." (n)

Art. 2. Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of their publication
in the Official Gazette, unless it is otherwise provided. This Code shall take effect one year
after such publication. (1a)

Art. 3. Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. (2)

Art. 4. Laws shall have no retroactive effect, unless the contrary is provided. (3)

Art. 5. Acts executed against the provisions of mandatory or prohibitory laws shall be void,
except when the law itself authorizes their validity. (4a)

Art. 6. Rights may be waived, unless the waiver is contrary to law, public order, public policy,
morals, or good customs, or prejudicial to a third person with a right recognized by law. (4a)

Art. 7. Laws are repealed only by subsequent ones, and their violation or non-observance shall
not be excused by disuse, or custom or practice to the contrary.

When the courts declared a law to be inconsistent with the Constitution, the former shall be
void and the latter shall govern.

Administrative or executive acts, orders and regulations shall be valid only when they are not
contrary to the laws or the Constitution. (5a)

Art. 8. Judicial decisions applying or interpreting the laws or the Constitution shall form a
part of the legal system of the Philippines. (n)

Art. 9. No judge or court shall decline to render judgment by reason of the silence, obscurity
or insufficiency of the laws. (6)

Art. 10. In case of doubt in the interpretation or application of laws, it is presumed that the
lawmaking body intended right and justice to prevail. (n)

Art. 11. Customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be
countenanced. (n)

Art. 12. A custom must be proved as a fact, according to the rules of evidence. (n)
Art. 13. When the laws speak of years, months, days or nights, it shall be understood that
years are of three hundred sixty-five days each; months, of thirty days; days, of twenty-four
hours; and nights from sunset to sunrise.

If months are designated by their name, they shall be computed by the number of days which
they respectively have.

In computing a period, the first day shall be excluded, and the last day included. (7a)

Art. 14. Penal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory upon all who
live or sojourn in the Philippine territory, subject to the principles of public international law
and to treaty stipulations. (8a)

Art. 15. Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal
capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living
abroad. (9a)

Art. 16. Real property as well as personal property is subject to the law of the country where
it is stipulated.

However, intestate and testamentary successions, both with respect to the order of
succession and to the amount of successional rights and to the intrinsic validity of
testamentary provisions, shall be regulated by the national law of the person whose
succession is under consideration, whatever may be the nature of the property and regardless
of the country wherein said property may be found. (10a)

Art. 17. The forms and solemnities of contracts, wills, and other public instruments shall be
governed by the laws of the country in which they are executed.

When the acts referred to are executed before the diplomatic or consular officials of the
Republic of the Philippines in a foreign country, the solemnities established by Philippine laws
shall be observed in their execution.

Prohibitive laws concerning persons, their acts or property, and those which have, for their
object, public order, public policy and good customs shall not be rendered ineffective by laws
or judgments promulgated, or by determinations or conventions agreed upon in a foreign
country. (11a)

Art. 18. In matters which are governed by the Code of Commerce and special laws, their
deficiency shall be supplied by the provisions of this Code. (16a)
 CHAPTER 2
HUMAN RELATIONS (n)

Art. 19. Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties,
act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith.

Art. 20. Every person who, contrary to law, wilfully or negligently causes damage to another,
shall indemnify the latter for the same.

Art. 21. Any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary
to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.

Art. 22. Every person who through an act of performance by another, or any other means,
acquires or comes into possession of something at the expense of the latter without just or
legal ground, shall return the same to him.

Art. 23. Even when an act or event causing damage to another's property was not due to the
fault or negligence of the defendant, the latter shall be liable for indemnity if through the
act or event he was benefited.

Art. 24. In all contractual, property or other relations, when one of the parties is at a
disadvantage on account of his moral dependence, ignorance, indigence, mental weakness,
tender age or other handicap, the courts must be vigilant for his protection.

Art. 25. Thoughtless extravagance in expenses for pleasure or display during a period of acute
public want or emergency may be stopped by order of the courts at the instance of any
government or private charitable institution.

Art. 26. Every person shall respect the dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of his
neighbors and other persons. The following and similar acts, though they may not constitute a
criminal offense, shall produce a cause of action for damages, prevention and other relief:

(1) Prying into the privacy of another's residence:

(2) Meddling with or disturbing the private life or family relations of another;

(3) Intriguing to cause another to be alienated from his friends;

(4) Vexing or humiliating another on account of his religious beliefs, lowly station in life,
place of birth, physical defect, or other personal condition.

Art. 27. Any person suffering material or moral loss because a public servant or employee
refuses or neglects, without just cause, to perform his official duty may file an action for
damages and other relief against he latter, without prejudice to any disciplinary
administrative action that may be taken.

Art. 28. Unfair competition in agricultural, commercial or industrial enterprises or in labor

through the use of force, intimidation, deceit, machination or any other unjust, oppressive or
highhanded method shall give rise to a right of action by the person who thereby suffers
damage.
 BOOK I
PERSONS
Title I. - CIVIL PERSONALITY
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 37. Juridical capacity, which is the fitness to be the subject of legal relations, is
inherent in every natural person and is lost only through death. Capacity to act, which is the
power to do acts with legal effect, is acquired and may be lost. (n)

Art. 38. Minority, insanity or imbecility, the state of being a deaf-mute, prodigality and civil
interdiction are mere restrictions on capacity to act, and do not exempt the incapacitated
person from certain obligations, as when the latter arise from his acts or from property
relations, such as easements. (32a)

Art. 39. The following circumstances, among others, modify or limit capacity to act: age,
insanity, imbecility, the state of being a deaf-mute, penalty, prodigality, family relations,
alienage, absence, insolvency and trusteeship. The consequences of these circumstances are
governed in this Code, other codes, the Rules of Court, and in special laws. Capacity to act is
not limited on account of religious belief or political opinion.

A married woman, twenty-one years of age or over, is qualified for all acts of civil life, except
in cases specified by law. (n)

CHAPTER 2
NATURAL PERSONS

Art. 40. Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born for all
purposes that are favorable to it, provided it be born later with the conditions specified in
the following article. (29a)
Art. 41. For civil purposes, the fetus is considered born if it is alive at the time it is
completely delivered from the mother's womb. However, if the fetus had an intra-uterine life
of less than seven months, it is not deemed born if it dies within twenty-four hours after its
complete delivery from the maternal womb. (30a)

Art. 42. Civil personality is extinguished by death.

The effect of death upon the rights and obligations of the deceased is determined by law, by
contract and by will. (32a)

Art. 43. If there is a doubt, as between two or more persons who are called to succeed each
other, as to which of them died first, whoever alleges the death of one prior to the other,
shall prove the same; in the absence of proof, it is presumed that they died at the same time
and there shall be no transmission of rights from one to the other. (33)
 Title X. - FUNERALS (n)

Art. 305. The duty and the right to make arrangements for the funeral of a relative shall be in
accordance with the order established for support, under Article 294. In case of descendants
of the same degree, or of brothers and sisters, the oldest shall be preferred. In case of
ascendants, the paternal shall have a better right.

Art. 306. Every funeral shall be in keeping with the social position of the deceased.

Art. 307. The funeral shall be in accordance with the expressed wishes of the deceased. In
the absence of such expression, his religious beliefs or affiliation shall determine the funeral
rites. In case of doubt, the form of the funeral shall be decided upon by the person obliged to
make arrangements for the same, after consulting the other members of the family.

Art. 308. No human remains shall be retained, interred, disposed of or exhumed without the
consent of the persons mentioned in articles 294 and 305.

Art. 309. Any person who shows disrespect to the dead, or wrongfully interferes with a
funeral shall be liable to the family of the deceased for damages, material and moral.

Art. 310. The construction of a tombstone or mausoleum shall be deemed a part of the
funeral expenses, and shall be chargeable to the conjugal partnership property, if the
deceased is one of the spouses.

Title XII. - CARE AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

Art. 356. Every child:

(1) Is entitled to parental care;

(2) Shall receive at least elementary education;

(3) Shall be given moral and civic training by the parents or guardian;

(4) Has a right to live in an atmosphere conducive to his physical, moral and intellectual
development.

Art. 357. Every child shall:

(1) Obey and honor his parents or guardian;

(2) Respect his grandparents, old relatives, and persons holding substitute parental authority;

(3) Exert his utmost for his education and training;

(4) Cooperate with the family in all matters that make for the good of the same.

Art. 358. Every parent and every person holding substitute parental authority shall see to it
that the rights of the child are respected and his duties complied with, and shall particularly,
by precept and example, imbue the child with highmindedness, love of country, veneration
for the national heroes, fidelity to democracy as a way of life, and attachment to the ideal of
permanent world peace.
Art. 363. In all questions on the care, custody, education and property of children the latter's
welfare shall be paramount. No mother shall be separated from her child under seven years of
age, unless the court finds compelling reasons for such measure.

Title XIII. - USE OF SURNAMES (n)

Art. 364. Legitimate and legitimated children shall principally use the surname of the father.

Art. 365. An adopted child shall bear the surname of the adopter.

Art. 366. A natural child acknowledged by both parents shall principally use the surname of
the father. If recognized by only one of the parents, a natural child shall employ the surname
of the recognizing parent.

Art. 367. Natural children by legal fiction shall principally employ the surname of the father.

Art. 368. Illegitimate children referred to in Article 287 shall bear the surname of the mother.

Art. 369. Children conceived before the decree annulling a voidable marriage shall principally
use the surname of the father.

Art. 370. A married woman may use:

(1) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname, or

(2) Her maiden first name and her husband's surname or

(3) Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indicating that she is his wife, such as "Mrs."

Art. 371. In case of annulment of marriage, and the wife is the guilty party, she shall resume
her maiden name and surname. If she is the innocent spouse, she may resume her maiden
name and surname. However, she may choose to continue employing her former husband's
surname, unless:

(1) The court decrees otherwise, or

(2) She or the former husband is married again to another person.

Art. 372. When legal separation has been granted, the wife shall continue using her name and
surname employed before the legal separation.

Art. 373. A widow may use the deceased husband's surname as though he were still living, in
accordance with Article 370.

Art. 374. In case of identity of names and surnames, the younger person shall be obliged to
use such additional name or surname as will avoid confusion.

Art. 375. In case of identity of names and surnames between ascendants and descendants, the
word "Junior" can be used only by a son. Grandsons and other direct male descendants shall
either:

(1) Add a middle name or the mother's surname, or

(2) Add the Roman Numerals II, III, and so on.

 Title XIV. - ABSENCE
CHAPTER 1
PROVISIONAL MEASURES IN CASE OF ABSENCE

Art. 381. When a person disappears from his domicile, his whereabouts being unknown, and
without leaving an agent to administer his property, the judge, at the instance of an
interested party, a relative, or a friend, may appoint a person to represent him in all that
may be necessary.

This same rule shall be observed when under similar circumstances the power conferred by
the absentee has expired. (181a)

Art. 382. The appointment referred to in the preceding article having been made, the judge
shall take the necessary measures to safeguard the rights and interests of the absentee and
shall specify the powers, obligations and remuneration of his representative, regulating them,
according to the circumstances, by the rules concerning guardians. (182)

Art. 383. In the appointment of a representative, the spouse present shall be preferred when
there is no legal separation.

If the absentee left no spouse, or if the spouse present is a minor, any competent person may
be appointed by the court. (183a)

CHAPTER 2
DECLARATION OF ABSENCE

Art. 384. Two years having elapsed without any news about the absentee or since the receipt
of the last news, and five years in case the absentee has left a person in charge of the
administration of his property, his absence may be declared. (184)

Art. 385. The following may ask for the declaration of absence:

(1) The spouse present;

(2) The heirs instituted in a will, who may present an authentic copy of the same;

(3) The relatives who may succeed by the law of intestacy;

(4) Those who may have over the property of the absentee some right subordinated to the
condition of his death. (185)

Art. 386. The judicial declaration of absence shall not take effect until six months after its
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. (186a)
 CHAPTER 3
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE ABSENTEE

Art. 387. An administrator of the absentee's property shall be appointed in accordance with
Article 383. (187a)

Art. 388. The wife who is appointed as an administratrix of the husband's property cannot
alienate or encumber the husband's property, or that of the conjugal partnership, without
judicial authority. (188a)

Art. 389. The administration shall cease in any of the following cases:

(1) When the absentee appears personally or by means of an agent;

(2) When the death of the absentee is proved and his testate or intestate heirs appear;

(3) When a third person appears, showing by a proper document that he has acquired the
absentee's property by purchase or other title.

In these cases the administrator shall cease in the performance of his office, and the property
shall be at the disposal of those who may have a right thereto. (190)

CHAPTER 4
PRESUMPTION OF DEATH

Art. 390. After an absence of seven years, it being unknown whether or not the absentee still
lives, he shall be presumed dead for all purposes, except for those of succession.

The absentee shall not be presumed dead for the purpose of opening his succession till after
an absence of ten years. If he disappeared after the age of seventy-five years, an absence of
five years shall be sufficient in order that his succession may be opened. (n)

Art. 391. The following shall be presumed dead for all purposes, including the division of the
estate among the heirs:

(1) A person on board a vessel lost during a sea voyage, or an aeroplane which is missing, who
has not been heard of for four years since the loss of the vessel or aeroplane;

(2) A person in the armed forces who has taken part in war, and has been missing for four
years;

(3) A person who has been in danger of death under other circumstances and his existence has
not been known for four years. (n)

Art. 392. If the absentee appears, or without appearing his existence is proved, he shall
recover his property in the condition in which it may be found, and the price of any property
that may have been alienated or the property acquired therewith; but he cannot claim either
fruits or rents. (194)
 Title XVI. - CIVIL REGISTER

Art. 407. Acts, events and judicial decrees concerning the civil status of persons shall be
recorded in the civil register. (325a)

Art. 408. The following shall be entered in the civil register:

(1) Births;
(2) marriages;
(3) deaths;
(4) legal separations;
(5) annulments of marriage;
(6) judgments declaring marriages void from the beginning;
(7) legitimations;
(8) adoptions;
(9) acknowledgments of natural children;
(10) naturalization;
(11) loss, or (12) recovery of citizenship;
(13) civil interdiction;
(14) judicial determination of filiation;
(15) voluntary emancipation of a minor; and
(16) changes of name. (326a)

Art. 409. In cases of legal separation, adoption, naturalization and other judicial orders
mentioned in the preceding article, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court which issued
the decree to ascertain whether the same has been registered, and if this has not been done,
to send a copy of said decree to the civil registry of the city or municipality where the court
is functioning. (n)

Art. 410. The books making up the civil register and all documents relating thereto shall be
considered public documents and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein
contained. (n)

Art. 411. Every civil registrar shall be civilly responsible for any unauthorized alteration made
in any civil register, to any person suffering damage thereby. However, the civil registrar may
exempt himself from such liability if he proves that he has taken every reasonable precaution
to prevent the unlawful alteration.(n)

Art. 412. No entry in a civil register shall be changed or corrected, without a judicial
order. (n)

Art. 413. All other matters pertaining to the registration of civil status shall be governed by
special laws. (n)