Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Conditional Sales vs Contracts to Sell: Clarifying Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a "conditional sale" is actually a contract to sell, and why full payment matters for ownership transfer.
Authority TO Sell Written Power IS KEY To Valid Real Estate Transactions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Estate of Lino Olaguer clarifies when a written power of attorney is required for valid real estate sales.
Good Faith Purchasers and Notarized Documents in Philippine Property Sales
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on buyer in good faith protection and reliance on notarized board resolutions in property transactions.
Sheriffs Must Follow Execution Rules: Grave Misconduct Case Lessons
When sheriffs demand unauthorized fees and adjourn sales without consent, they commit grave misconduct. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Right of Way When a Promise Isn't a Guarantee in Property Sales
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a company's promise to extend a contract becomes binding, and the limits of corporate liability.
Motion Denied: Strict Enforcement of Notice Requirements in Lifting Property Levies
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on quieting title, property levies, and the strict enforcement of redemption periods after execution sales.
Equitable Mortgage VS Absolute Sale Protecting Vulnerable Parties IN Property Transactions
Learn how Philippine courts protect vulnerable parties in property deals, distinguishing equitable mortgages from absolute sales to prevent exploitation.
Priority of Attachment Liens Over Prior Unregistered Sales of Real Property
When an attachment lien is registered before a sale, the lien prevails. Learn the priority rules under PD 1529.
Simulated Sales: When Continued Possession Trumps a Deed of Sale
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on simulated sales: continued possession and tax payments can nullify a deed of absolute sale.
Local Taxing Powers vs National Policy: Navotas Cannot Tax Petroleum Sales
Supreme Court rules local governments cannot impose business taxes on petroleum products under (h) of the Local Government Code.
Marital Consent Is Key: Spousal Rights in Property Sales Under Article 124
Supreme Court voids a husband's sale of conjugal property without his wife's consent, explaining Article 124 of the Family Code.
Public Funds, Private Gain: Unpacking the Unconstitutional Levy on Fertilizer Sales
The Supreme Court struck down a fertilizer levy that funneled public funds to a private company, reaffirming that taxes must serve a public purpose.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: The Binding Force of Agreed Interest Rates in Credit Transactions
Supreme Court ruling on agreed interest rates in credit sales, party autonomy, and limits on unconscionable charges.
Oral Sales and Unlawful Detainer: Resolving Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when an oral sale of real property defeats an unlawful detainer suit, and when it does not.
Enforcement OF Estate Obligations Probate Courts Power TO Execute Sales Agreements
Timeshare Contracts and SEC Registration: What Buyers Should Know
Supreme Court clarifies that unregistered timeshare sales violate the Securities Act, and buyers may rescind such contracts.
Proving Illegal Sale of Shabu: The Role of Informants and Buy-Bust Operations
A Supreme Court ruling explains what prosecutors must prove in illegal drug sales cases and when an informant's testimony is dispensable.
FAX Transmissions Are Not Electronic Evidence: MCC Industrial Sales v. Ssangyong
The Supreme Court clarifies that ordinary fax transmissions are not electronic evidence under R.A. 8792, but photocopies may still be admitted under the Rules of Court.
Partitioning Property Understanding Co-Ownership and Heirs' Rights in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law resolves double sales of inherited property, the role of registration, and heirs' rights in co-ownership disputes.
Sheriffs Must Follow Auction Sale and Redemption Rules Strictly
A sheriff's failure to follow Rule 39 procedures on auction sales and property redemption constitutes simple neglect of duty, warranting suspension.
Price Certainty in Real Estate Sales: When a "Yes" Is Not Enough
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a contract of sale requires a definite price; vague terms and unresolved payment details prevent perfection.
Writ of Possession and Third-Party Rights: Protecting Possessory Interests in Foreclosure Sales
When can a foreclosure sale purchaser evict a third-party possessor? The Supreme Court explains limits on writs of possession.
Compromise Agreements and Redemption Rights in Philippine Tax Delinquency Sales
Supreme Court ruling on compromise agreements, tax delinquency redemption, and substantial compliance in Philippine property law.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: Enforceability of Sales Invoices Despite Claims of Discrepancies
Supreme Court affirms that signed sales invoices are binding evidence of delivery and payment obligations, even when a buyer later claims short deliveries.