Philippines Supreme Court Says Same-Sex Couples Can Co-Own Property
The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled that same-sex couples who live together can be recognised as co-owners of property under Article 148 of the Family Code, as long as there is proof they actually contributed.
The decision was issued by the Court’s Second Division, with Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez writing the ruling. It was promulgated on 5 February 2025, and publicly summarised by the Court on 10 February 2026.
The case behind the headline.
The ruling came from a property dispute between two women, Jennifer C. Josef and Evalyn G. Ursua, who lived together and bought a house and lot in Quezon City. The title was registered under one partner’s name, and later, a signed acknowledgement stated the other partner had paid about 50% of the purchase and renovation costs.
When the relationship ended, the sale fell apart, and the partner who said she contributed sought a legal partition of the property. The Supreme Court ultimately recognised her as a co-owner to the extent of a 50% share, then remanded the case back to the Regional Trial Court for further proceedings.
Why Article 148 matters.
Article 147 of the Family Code covers couples who can legally marry and presumes that property acquired during cohabitation is jointly owned. Article 148 applies when a couple cannot legally marry, and it requires proof of actual contribution before property is treated as common.
Because the Family Code defines marriage as between a man and a woman, the Court said same-sex couples fall under Article 148.
So what does this mean if the title is only in one partner’s name? It means paperwork and proof matter more than vibes. Plenty of couples split costs informally, but this ruling is a reminder that receipts, bank records, written agreements, and signed acknowledgements can be the difference between “we built this together” and “prove it.”
The Court also flagged that bigger questions about relationship recognition sit with lawmakers, noting it “does not have the monopoly” to secure the rights at stake.
