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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
When Possession Does Not Equal Ownership: Land Registration and the Alienable and Disposable Requirement
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when possession of public land can ripen into ownership for registration under the Property Registration Decree.
Indispensable Parties and Representative Capacity in Property Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on indispensable parties, representative capacity to sue, and quieting of title actions in property disputes.
Double Sales and Good Faith: Protecting Prior Rights in Property Disputes
When two sales of the same land occur, who wins? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on double sales and good faith.
Final Judgments and Immutability: Protecting Property Rights from Alteration
Why a final and executory judgment cannot be altered, and how courts protect property rights from void amendments.
Sheriff's Duty in Execution: Third-Party Claims and the Limits of Discretion
A sheriff who levies property must honor third-party claims and court orders staying execution. The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of a sheriff's discretion.
Infrastructure Projects vs Property Rights: When Can the Government Proceed
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts cannot issue injunctions against government infrastructure projects, even amid property rights claims.
Lis Pendens in Property Cases: When Courts May Cancel the Notice
A look at when courts may cancel a notice of lis pendens, using the Tongohan case to explain the limits of this protective remedy.
Attorney's Fees and Ethical Boundaries: Can Lawyers Demand Property as Payment?
A lawyer who demands litigated property as fees after the case ends may still face discipline for conduct unbecoming the legal profession.
Lawyer Fees and Client Property: What Ramos v. Ngaseo Teaches About the Limits of Fee Collection
The Supreme Court reprimanded a lawyer who demanded his client's land as payment, clarifying when the Civil Code ban on acquiring litigated property applies.
Who Pays Capital Gains Tax and Sale Registration Costs in Philippine Property Deals
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who bears capital gains tax and registration expenses in property sales, distinguishing obligations of individual and corporate sellers.
Real Property Sale Obligations: Who Pays Registration and Capital Gains Tax
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on vendor obligations for registration expenses, eviction of occupants, and capital gains tax in property sales.
Perfected Sales vs. Recovery of Property: Understanding Real Actions in Philippine Law
When is a suit for specific performance actually a real action for recovery of property? The Supreme Court clarifies in Jimenez v. Jordana.
LGU Right to Immediate Possession in Expropriation: City of Iloilo v. Legaspi
When can an LGU take immediate possession of private property in expropriation? The Supreme Court explains the 15% deposit rule.
Compromise Agreements When Concealed Property Values Invalidate Settlements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when concealed property values in compromise agreements constitute extrinsic fraud that invalidates settlements.
Overlapping Land Titles: Registration Date and Reconstitution Validity in Philippine Property Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts resolve conflicting land titles, weighing registration dates, reconstitution validity, and evidence of ownership.
Upholding Compromise Agreements, HLURB Jurisdiction, and Contractual Obligations in Property Sales
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when the HLURB has jurisdiction over property disputes and affirms that compromise agreements bind parties unless vitiated or void.
Public Land Cannot Be Burdened: Property Rights and Public Use in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on public dominion property, right of way easements, and possession claims over government land.
Real Action or Personal Action: Where to File Suits Over Mortgaged Property
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a case to cancel a real estate mortgage is a real action that must be filed where the property lies, not where the plaintiff resides.
PPA Withdrawal of Tax Exemption and Liability for Real Property Taxes
Supreme Court ruling on PPA's liability for real property taxes after withdrawal of tax exemptions under PD 1931 and the Local Government Code.
Piercing the Veil When Trust Turns to Deceit in Property Disputes
When a foreigner entrusts money to friends to buy property, but the deed names them as owners, Philippine courts apply solutio indebiti to compel reconveyance.
When Can Heirs Sue for Partition: Co-Ownership Rules in Inheritance Disputes
Learn when heirs can demand partition of inherited property, the rules on co-ownership, and how Philippine courts resolve inheritance disputes.
Certiorari Limitations: Abuse of Discretion vs. Errors of Judgment in Property Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when certiorari may correct grave abuse of discretion, distinguishing it from mere errors of judgment in property cases.
Eminent Domain and Due Process: Protecting Property Rights in Expropriation Cases
The Supreme Court nullified Cebu City's expropriation ordinance, reaffirming that due process and strict legal compliance limit local governments' power of eminent domain.
Implied Trust and Reconveyance: When a Lawyer Holds Property for a Brother's Heirs
The Supreme Court explains when a lawyer holds property in implied trust for family, and why laches did not bar the claim.