Annulment filings must now be electronic

Through a newly issued resolution, the Supreme Court en banc approved amendments that officially bring these special proceedings under the same e-filing and service rules that govern ordinary civil cases in first- and second-level trial courts.

The amendment takes effect following the resolution's publication on April 24, 2025.

Previously, Rule 13-A applied only to civil actions and excluded special proceedings such as petitions for annulment of marriage and declaration of nullity.

However, the Office of the Court Administrator recommended their inclusion, pointing out that the procedures followed in these cases are substantially similar to civil actions.

The Supreme Court adopted the recommendation and amended Section 1 of Rule 13-A accordingly.

Under the revised rule, all filings and service of pleadings, motions, court orders, and other related documents in annulment and nullity cases must now be transmitted electronically — primarily through email — starting Dec. 1, 2024.

Only initiatory pleadings, such as the petition itself, are exempt from the e-filing mandate and must still be filed physically.

This reform is part of the Supreme Court's broader Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI), a long-term roadmap that envisions a "technology-driven judiciary" capable of delivering faster, more efficient justice to the Filipino people.

The Supreme Court emphasized that the shift to electronic processes not only reduces administrative burden and logistical delays but also helps minimize face-to-face contact — an innovation born out of pandemic-era adaptations but now enshrined in institutional policy.

As the judiciary pushes forward with its digitalization initiatives, courts, law offices and litigants are urged to familiarize themselves with the requirements and mechanics of e-filing.

The Supreme Court has pledged to roll out additional guidelines, technical support and training in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.