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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Equitable Mortgage vs Absolute Sale: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish equitable mortgages from absolute sales to protect property owners from hidden credit arrangements.
Void Contracts: When Lack of Consent Invalidates a Sale
A sale by an unauthorized board is void. Learn the consent requirement in Philippine contract law from this Supreme Court ruling.
Rescission of Real Estate Sales: When Can a Deal Be Undone
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a deed of sale can be rescinded for unpaid consideration and why corporate separateness blocks compensation claims.
Foreclosure Sales Ensuring Validity AND Protecting Property Rights IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts validate foreclosure sales and protect property rights through strict procedural compliance and equitable remedies.
Partnership Disputes: When a Deed of Sale Is Simulated and Fiduciary Duties Endure
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on simulated deeds of sale in partnership disputes, fiduciary duties, and bad faith withholding of funds.
Right OF First Refusal Understanding Contractual Obligations IN Property Sales
Mortgage Foreclosure Surplus: Mortgagor Rights to Excess Bid Proceeds in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mortgagor rights to surplus proceeds from extrajudicial foreclosure sales and writ of possession.
Perfecting a Contract of Sale: Understanding Offer and Acceptance in Philippine Law
When is a real estate offer accepted? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on offer, acceptance, and the Statute of Frauds.
Mistake in Contracts: When Can a Sale Be Annulled?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a mistake in the object of a sale can invalidate consent and allow annulment of the contract.
Doing Business in the Philippines: When Selling to a Filipino Buyer Requires a License
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a foreign corporation's sales to a local buyer constitute
Perfected Contract of Sale: Key Elements and Legal Implications in the Philippines
Learn the essential elements of a perfected contract of sale in the Philippines, including the requirement of a definite price, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Equitable Mortgage vs Absolute Sale: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
When is a deed of sale actually an equitable mortgage? The Supreme Court explains the legal presumption protecting property owners.
Parol Evidence and Oral Conditions in Deeds of Sale: Ortañez v. Court of Appeals
When a deed of sale is silent on conditions, parol evidence cannot add oral terms—learn from Ortañez v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 107372.
How to Contest a Foreclosure Sale in the Philippines: A Guide from GSIS v. Court of Appeals
Learn how to contest a foreclosure sale in the Philippines, including the remedy under Act No. 3135, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in GSIS v. Court of Appeals.
Foreclosure Sale Remedies in the Philippines: Act 3135 Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the remedy to set aside a foreclosure sale under Act 3135, and when courts may relax procedural rules.
Annulment of Contracts: Fraud and Consent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when fraud vitiates consent in contracts, using a land sale case as example.
Earnest Money and Conditional Obligations: Navigating Real Estate Sales in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on earnest money, conditional obligations, and what happens when a seller fails to deliver in Philippine real estate sales.
Conditional Contracts of Sale: When Does Ownership Transfer in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the key difference between a contract to sell and a conditional contract of sale, and when ownership transfers.
Conditional Sales and Agrarian Reform: Protecting Contractual Obligations
DBP v. Carpio clarifies that agrarian reform laws cannot impair prior contractual obligations under conditional sales.
Understanding the Limits of General Powers of Attorney in Real Estate Sales
Learn how Philippine courts treat general powers of attorney in real estate transactions and why specificity matters.
Equitable Mortgage vs Absolute Sale: When Philippine Courts Look Beyond the Deed's Title
Philippine courts can reclassify a deed of absolute sale as an equitable mortgage based on the parties' true intent and surrounding circumstances.
Contract of Sale vs. Contract to Sell: Key Differences Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains the crucial distinction between a contract of sale and a contract to sell, and why the label on the document does not always determine the true agreement.
Understanding Legal Redemption: Protecting Co-Owners' Rights in Property Sales
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies co-owners' legal redemption rights, written notice requirements, and timely exercise under Civil Code Articles 1619-1623.