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.
Reconstitution of Torrens Titles: Strict Compliance and the Hierarchy of Courts
A petition to reconstitute a lost Torrens title must strictly follow RA 26; wrong remedy and forum doom the case.
Pre-Trial Attendance Is Key: Consequences of Absenteeism in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts require strict compliance with pre-trial rules. Learn the consequences of absence and the rules on reconstitution of titles.
Title Registration as Proof of Prior Possession in Forcible Entry Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Torrens title can prove prior physical possession in forcible entry cases, protecting landowners from intruders.
Res Judicata vs Ownership Claims: Understanding Property Disputes in the Philippines
A forcible entry ruling does not bar a later ownership-based recovery case. Learn the key distinctions from a 2014 Supreme Court decision.
Forged Signatures and Good Faith in Philippine Land Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on forged deeds, buyer good faith, and protecting land ownership rights.
Exclusive Ownership vs Successional Rights: Clarifying Property Claims in Inheritance Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when heirs acquire rights to property and how titles describe ownership in inheritance disputes.
Mortgage in Good Faith: Banks vs Unregistered Land Sales in the Philippines
When does a bank lose protection as a mortgagee in good faith? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule on unregistered land sales.
Property Disputes: Jurisdiction and Estoppel in Free Patent Repurchase Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on RTC jurisdiction over free patent repurchase actions and the principle of jurisdiction by estoppel.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Why Original Documents Matter for Property Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court explains strict requirements for reconstituting lost land titles under RA 26, emphasizing original documents over substitutes.
Reconveyance and Good Faith: When a Torrens Title Is Not Enough
Philippine Supreme Court rules that a Torrens title obtained in bad faith may be defeated by an action for reconveyance by one with a better right.
Reconstitution of Title: The Critical Requirements of Loss and Good Faith
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies strict requirements for judicial reconstitution of lost or destroyed Torrens titles under RA 26.
When a Lawyer's Admission in Court Binds the Client: Lessons from Chung v. Mondragon
A client's fate can hinge on counsel's admissions in court. Learn how the Supreme Court applied this rule in quieting of title cases.
When Creeks Shift: Land Ownership and Natural Watercourse Changes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who owns abandoned river beds when creeks change course naturally, and the burden of proof required.
Friar Lands and Faulty Signatures: When Government Neglect Jeopardizes Land Ownership
The Supreme Court's Manotok ruling shows how documentary gaps in friar land sales can undermine even long-standing property claims.
Torrens Title vs Unregistered Sale: Who Has Better Right to Possess Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why a Torrens title prevails over an unregistered deed of sale in disputes over land possession.
Torrens Title Prevails Over Unregistered Deed in Possession Dispute
Supreme Court rules registered owners have better right to possession than occupants holding unregistered deeds, even notarized ones.
Superior Registered Title Prevails Protecting Prior Land Rights Despite Subsequent Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an earlier registered title beats later buyers, even innocent purchasers for value.
Lump Sum vs. Unit Price in Land Sales: The Del Prado v. Caballero Rule
Philippine land sale disputes often hinge on lump sum versus unit price contracts. The Supreme Court's ruling in Del Prado v. Caballero clarifies the rules.
Good Faith vs Torrens Title Resolving Land Ownership Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a Torrens title or a deed of sale prevails in land possession disputes.
Good Faith and Land Titles: Resolving Ownership Disputes in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court balances Torrens titles against good faith in ownership disputes, and why buyers must investigate suspicious circumstances.
Upholding Land Titles: The Limits of Reconveyance Based on Alleged Fraud in Free Patent Applications
The Supreme Court clarifies when a free patent title becomes indefeasible and why mere allegations of fraud cannot defeat a Torrens title.
Partition Disputes: The Mandatory Role of Commissioners in Property Division
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts must appoint commissioners to divide property in partition disputes, and the limits of the parol evidence rule.
Accretion Rights and Innocent Purchasers: Resolving Land Ownership Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on accretion rights, reconveyance actions, and the protection of innocent purchasers for value in land disputes.
Lis Pendens and Fraudulent Patents: When a Buyer Is Not in Good Faith
The Supreme Court explains when a notice of lis pendens defeats a claim of good faith purchase of registered land.