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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Ejectment Suits: How Ownership Disputes Affect Jurisdiction in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle ejectment cases when ownership is disputed, and why jurisdiction stays with the first-level court.
Judge's Authority in Marriage Solemnization: Jurisdiction and Validity Rules
Learn the jurisdictional limits of judges solemnizing marriages in the Philippines and the mandatory presumptive death proceeding under the Family Code.
Enforcing Labor Rights Understanding Prescription AND Jurisdiction IN Philippine Labor LAW
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on labor claim prescription, jurisdiction, and enforcement of compromise agreements in MWSS v. NLRC.
When Can a Municipal Trial Court Hear Your Case: Unlawful Detainer Jurisdiction Limits
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that failure to serve demand to vacate deprives MTCC of jurisdiction over unlawful detainer cases.
Compulsory Counterclaims When A Court Loses Jurisdiction Over Related Claims
When a court dismisses the main action for lack of jurisdiction, the compulsory counterclaim falls with it. Learn the rule.
Perfecting Your Appeal: Why Timely Docket Fee Payment Is Crucial in Philippine Courts
Learn why paying appellate docket fees on time is mandatory and jurisdictional in Philippine courts, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Pedrosa v. Hill.
Jurisdiction Over Foreign Corporations Doing Business in the Philippines
Philippine courts can assert jurisdiction over foreign corporations doing business locally, even for a single transaction, under Rule 14, Section 14.
Jurisdiction Over Overseas Employment Disputes: When Labor Arbiters Have Authority
Explaining the rule that jurisdiction over overseas employment cases is determined by the law at the time of filing, citing Erectors, Inc. v. NLRC.
Perfecting Appeals: The Importance of Surety Bonds in Philippine Labor Cases
Learn why posting a surety bond on time is mandatory and jurisdictional in appeals from POEA decisions to the NLRC.
Land Reform and Jurisdiction: Understanding Agrarian Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when regular courts, not the DAR, have jurisdiction over agrarian disputes involving land transfer certificates.
Intra-Corporate Disputes: When Illegal Dismissal Claims Fall Under SEC Jurisdiction
Learn when a corporate officer's removal is an intra-corporate dispute under SEC jurisdiction, not an illegal dismissal case for the NLRC.
Jurisdiction in Public Sector Compensation Disputes: DBM vs CSC-MSPB
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on which agency has jurisdiction over position classification and compensation disputes in government service.