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BillSBN-43020th Congress

Same Sex Partners Property Relations Act

In committee Filed Jul 10, 2025
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on July 10, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality; it has been pending in committee since August 13, 2025, with no recorded action since then.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

This bill addresses property rights for same sex couples, a significant issue in the context of legal recognition and equality.

Cohabiting same sex partnersLegal practitionersProperty owners
Timeliness
Timely

The bill responds to ongoing discussions about equality and property rights for same sex couples in the Philippines.

Affects you ifSame sex partnersProperty ownersLegal professionalsAdvocacy groups
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
5.3/ 10
Long title

Same Sex Partners Property Relations Act

Plain-language summary
AI Summary

The Same Sex Partners Property Relations Act aims to establish a legal framework for property relations among cohabiting same sex partners, ensuring their rights to jointly acquire, own, and manage property.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresPartners must have a written agreement on property relations (Sec. 4).
RequiresThe Department of Justice must create implementing rules within 60 days of effectivity (Sec. 9).
Deadline60 days for implementing rules (Sec. 9).
Deadline15 days after publication for effectivity (Sec. 12).
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Same sex partners lack formal property rights.

This bill

Same sex partners can legally own and manage property together.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The bill aims to institute a property regime for cohabiting same sex partners, allowing them to jointly acquire, own, and manage property. It seeks to protect their rights in property relations, especially in cases of separation or death.

Source · full text
Issue areas
JusticeLocal GovernmentSocial WelfareGender equalityProperty rightsSame sex partnersLegal equalityCohabitation

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Jul 10, 2025Senate
Introduced by Senator IMEE R. MARCOS;
Aug 13, 2025Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committee on WOMEN, CHILDREN, FAMILY RELATIONS AND GENDER EQUALITY;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has been pending in the committee for over two months with no action since it was referred on August 13, 2025.

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Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-430 — verbatim textAs filed

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular SEsSiON LIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P6:13 S.B. NEN 130 RECEIVED Sr. -- Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT INSTITUTING A PROPERTY REGIME FOR COHABITING SAME SEX PARTNERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The acquisition, ownership and use of property, is a guaranteed right of all citizens. Property ownership, for so many, provides the citizen with the assurance that in times of difficult challenges, there is hope for survival and there will be better days ahead. The rights of same sex partners to acquire and own property jointly, and to use, sell, dispose or in any manner alienate such property for their benefit deserves protection. Thus, this bill seeks to provide protection to the rights of same sex partners to jointly acquire, own, use, enjoy, manage, sell, dispose or alienate property for their benefit, including the rights of each partner to a just share of such properties acquired during the partnership in case of death, disability or incapacity of the other partner, and in instances of separation or termination of the partnership and/or abandonment of one partner by the other for any cause. While the Philippines is moving towards greater inclusion for all, there's a continued need for legislative action, community support, and public education to ensure full equality for all. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Free h. Mares IMEER. MARCOST

cott: de TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 JUL 10 P6:13 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED 67 S.B. No. 430 Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS INSTITUTING A PROPERTY REGIME FOR COHABITING SAME SEX PARTNERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Same Sex Partners Property

Relations Act".

SEC. 2. Coverage. - This Act shall cover the property relations of same sex

partners who are cohabiting or living together which include, among others, the acquisition and ownership of property, real or personal, inclusive of such other rights that are appurtenant thereto, and the enjoyment, distribution, alienation, sale and disposition thereof.

SEC. 3. Applicability. - The provisions of this Act shall be applicable to persons

in a same sex partnership who are cohabiting or actually living together and who have been cohabiting or actually living together for at least one (1) year at the time of effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 4. Ownership of Properties Acquired During the Partnership. - The

provisions of a written agreement between the partners on the acquisition, ownership, enjoyment, sharing, distribution, alienation, sale or disposition of property acquired by both or any of the parties during the period of cohabitation shall govern their property relations. The written agreement shall be notarized in the city or municipality where the partners reside.

SEC. 5. Administration and Other Rights Over Properties. - Both partners shall

have joint rights to the administration and enjoyment of the properties co-owned by them. In case of incapacity, permanent or temporary, or inability, for any lawful reason, to properly administer the properties, the other partner shall assume administration and management of all co-owned properties until the other partner is fit and able. No lease, use, sale, alienation or disposition of any property co-owned by the parties shall be done without the consent of both partners. Any contract or agreement for the use, lease, sale, alienation or disposition of any property co-owned by the partners shall be signed by both of the partners.

SEC. 6. Donations and Gifts. - Donations and gifts received by any of the

partners during the cohabitation, except those from members of the immediate family 14 of the donee, shall form part of the co-owned properties of the partners. Provided, that 15 donations or gifts given by a partner to the other, shall be the exclusive personal property of the recipient partner. No donations or gifts may be made in favor of any person without the consent of both parties.

SEC. 7. Personal Debts, Loans, and Other Liabilities. - Any loan or financial

obligation incurred by a partner without the knowledge or consent of the other shall be the personal liability of the partner who incurred the debt or liability. Final and executory court judgments arising from acts that happened before the cohabitation of the partners shall not be paid out of co-ownership funds or property. Provided, that court judgments promulgated during the period of cohabitation may be paid out of the co-ownership funds if the alleged acts were undertaken with the knowledge and/or full consent of the parties.

SEC. 8. Dissolution of Co-Ownership. - The co-ownership of properties of

persons in a same sex relationship shall be deemed dissolved upon the death or permanent disability of any of the partners or upon the termination of the relationship for any cause, unless in cases of termination of the partnership due to mutually agreed and/or amicable separation, the partners agree to continue their co-ownership of particular properties, which agreement shall be reduced in writing and duly notarized as a formal contract or agreement between the parties. Otherwise, upon the dissolution of the partnership, the properties co-owned by the partners shall be divided equally between the partners after the payment of debts and obligations jointly incurred prior to the dissolution.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Justice (DO])

shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly,

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.