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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Understanding Prescription Periods in Property Disputes: Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Case
Learn how prescription periods work in property disputes through the Supreme Court's ruling in Selerio v. Bancasan on interrupted timeframes and written contracts.
Understanding Lawyer Misconduct and Ethical Duties in Property Transactions
A Supreme Court ruling on a clerk of court's misconduct highlights the ethical boundaries court personnel must observe in property disputes.
Understanding Res Judicata: How Final Judgments Impact Property Disputes in the Philippines
Learn how the doctrine of res judicata bars relitigation of property disputes, as explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling on quieting of title.
Valid Land Titles and Res Judicata: Key Lessons from a Philippine Property Dispute
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why tax declarations don't prove ownership and how res judicata bars relitigating property claims.
Proving Inheritance The Burden OF Evidence IN Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to prove a certificate of title existed before reconstitution is granted.
Grave Abuse of Discretion: Ombudsman's Duty and Limits in Graft Cases Involving Property Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when the Ombudsman may dismiss graft complaints involving property disputes and what grave abuse of discretion truly means.
Understanding Dismissal for Non-Prosecution Implications for Property Disputes in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified that construction-related property damage claims belong in regular courts, not CIAC arbitration.
Understanding the Legal Boundaries of Property Disputes and Lawyer Conduct in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when lawyers face discipline in property disputes, and the limits of self-help in possession cases.
RES JUDICATA AND PROPERTY DISPUTES: WHEN A FINAL JUDGMENT NULLIFIES AN EJECTMENT CASE
A final ruling voiding a deed of sale bars an unlawful detainer case based on that deed, under res judicata.
Proof of Encroachment: The Importance of Survey Plans in Property Disputes
Survey plans must clearly show encroachment to prove property disputes. The Supreme Court explains what suffices as evidence.
Baptismal Certificates and Inheritance Rights: Proving Filiation in Property Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified when baptismal certificates can prove filiation and inheritance rights in Philippine property disputes.
Double Jeopardy, Forum Shopping, and the Immutability of Judgments in Family Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling on final judgments, forum shopping, and indirect contempt in a family property dispute under RA 9262.
Malicious Mischief in Property Disputes: What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court clarifies when destroying property in a dispute becomes malicious mischief, and why claims of ownership do not justify taking the law into one's own hands.
Proving Forgery in Property Disputes: The Burden of Clear Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that forgery must be proven by clear and convincing evidence, not mere allegations, in property disputes.
Assessed Value vs Market Value: Jurisdictional Thresholds in Property Disputes
Philippine courts determine jurisdiction over property disputes by assessed value, not market value. Learn the rule from Gabrillo v. Heirs of Pastor.
Legal Redemption: The Critical Importance of Timely Assertion in Property Disputes
Land registration requires proof the property is alienable and disposable. The Supreme Court explains the rules and burden of proof.
Clearing Title Disputes: How Ownership Rights Prevail in Property Conflicts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property disputes, foreign ownership limits, and the proper remedy for dismissed cases.
Land Rights and Oral Sales: Understanding Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when oral sales of land are valid, and why the five-year free patent ban on alienation matters.
Jurisdiction in Property Disputes: Assessed Value of the Whole Lot Controls
Philippine Supreme Court rules that in property disputes, jurisdiction is determined by the assessed value alleged in the complaint, not the disputed portion's value.
Procedural Missteps in Property Disputes: Lessons from a Landmark Notarial Case
A lawyer notarized a deed without commission, altering property rights. The Supreme Court's ruling teaches key lessons on notarial practice and property disputes.
Jurisdictional Thresholds Determining Court Competence In Property Disputes
A 2019 Supreme Court ruling clarifies what courts must decide in land registration cases and the limits of Rule 45 review.
Good Faith and Land Titles: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when good faith protects parties from contempt in property disputes, balancing court orders with rights of innocent buyers.
Burden of Proof in Property Disputes: Establishing Rights and Damages in Demolition Cases
Supreme Court clarifies that claimants in demolition cases must prove ownership and damages by preponderance of evidence.
Laches and Jurisdiction: Upholding Final Judgments in Property Disputes
The Supreme Court rules that a four-year delay in filing an annulment of judgment constitutes laches, barring property claims.