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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Notice of Lis Pendens: How It Affects Mortgagees and Subsequent Property Transactions
Learn how a notice of lis pendens binds mortgagees and buyers, and why a court order alone does not cancel it under Philippine law.
Forged Signatures and Public Trust: Examining Falsification of Documents by Public Officials
A lawyer's deceitful sale of client property leads to suspension, exploring falsification claims and professional responsibility.
When Can a Club Seize a Member's Share? The Valley Golf Case on By-Laws and Property Rights
A club cannot seize a fully paid membership share for unpaid dues without proper notice and hearing, says the Supreme Court.
Membership Termination in Non-Stock Corporations: Safeguarding Property Rights
The Calatagan Golf Club case clarifies that non-stock corporations must strictly follow their own by-laws before terminating membership or selling shares.
Land Ownership Disputes: Grounds for Dismissal in Property Recovery Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when dismissal is improper in property recovery cases, emphasizing that prescription, laches, and res judicata require proof.
Protecting Your Property Purchase: The Innocent Purchaser for Value Doctrine in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court protects innocent purchasers for value under Philippine property law, and what buyers must do to secure their titles.
Conflicting Land Titles: Why Prior Titles Prevail in Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conflicting land titles, explaining why earlier certificates of title prevail over later ones in property disputes.
Co-Ownership and Property Recovery: When Must All Owners Join a Lawsuit
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when co-owners must be impleaded in property recovery suits under Article 487 of the Civil Code.
Revival of Judgment Safeguarding Property Rights After Forcible Entry
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on co-owner recovery actions, tenant protections under P.D. 1517, and property rights enforcement.
In Ejectment, Courts Cannot Decide Issues Beyond the Pleadings
In Sioson v. Heirs of Avanceña, the Court rules ejectment courts cannot adjudicate claims over property not alleged in the complaint—only the disputed lot's possession is at issue.
Proof Beyond Doubt Establishing Heirship IN Property Disputes
Mortgage Validity and Foreclosure: Protecting Property Rights Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a mortgage is void, how redemption periods work, and why prior judgments bind parties in foreclosure disputes.
Tax Declaration vs Title: Resolving Property Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how tax declarations, birth certificates, and deeds of sale affect property ownership disputes between heirs.
Ejectment and Intervention: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ejectment cases, intervention timing, and the rights of non-parties bound by judgments.
Tenants' Rights vs. Landowners' Prerogatives: Balancing Agrarian Reform and Property Rights
When a forged compromise agreement taints a university's title to agrarian land, the Supreme Court rules on collateral attack and indefeasibility.
When a Lease Lapses: A Lesson on Property Rights, Renewal Options, and Fraud Claims
Supreme Court ruling explains when a lease ends, how renewal options work, and why proving fraud requires solid evidence.
Lease vs. Sale: When a Property Owner Can Sell Leased Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease rights, option to renew, and when a lessor can sell property.
Newspaper Circulation and Foreclosure: Ensuring Public Notice in Property Sales
Supreme Court nullifies foreclosure sale because notice was published in a newspaper not circulated in the city where the property was located.
Good Faith and Land Sales: Protecting the True Landowner in Philippine Property Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that Torrens titles are not proof of ownership, and that a Filipino buyer can cure a flawed land sale from an alien.
Property Rights in Relationships: Protecting Filipino Land Ownership From Alien Acquisition
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether an Austrian's Filipino girlfriend could keep land registered in her name despite his payment and later assignment to a Filipino buyer.
When an Affidavit of Quitclaim Isn't Enough: Donation Requirements in Property Transfers
A quitclaim affidavit transferring real property may be treated as a donation. Learn the formal requirements to make it valid under Philippine law.
Navigating Appeals: Jurisdictional Errors and Lost Rights in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on res judicata, indispensable parties, and mortgagee good faith in property disputes.
Reconveyance Actions and Good Faith: Clarifying Property Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains res judicata and good faith in reconveyance actions, protecting banks that rely on court-issued titles.
Land Registration Court Authority Overlapping Property Claims
When a court executes a final judgment, it cannot add reliefs—like possession—that the appellate court never awarded.