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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Good Faith Prevails: Protecting Innocent Purchasers in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on innocent purchasers for value, good faith, and extinguishment of claims in property disputes.
Lis Pendens Cancellation: Estate Settlement Finality vs Unrelated Agreements
When a judicially approved compromise ends estate proceedings, lis pendens on covered property may be deemed cancelled under PD 1529.
Spousal Consent in Conjugal Property Disposition Under the Family Code
The Supreme Court explains why a spouse cannot sell conjugal property without the other's written consent, and what buyers must verify.
Jurisdictional Estoppel When Participation Waives Objections in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how active participation in trial can bar a party from later questioning the court's jurisdiction in property cases.
Right of First Refusal in Lease Agreements: What Lessees Should Know
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that right of first refusal in lease contracts survives expiration and binds the lessor to offer the property first.
Protecting Marital Property When a Spouse’s Signature Matters
A forged special power of attorney cannot defeat conjugal property rights. Learn the rules on spousal consent in property sales.
Sharia Courts and Property Disputes: Concurrent Jurisdiction in Muslim Mindanao
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling that Sharia District Courts share jurisdiction with regular courts over real property cases involving Muslims.
Eminent Domain Revisited: When Expropriated Land Must Be Returned After Public Use Ceases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when former owners can reclaim expropriated property if the public purpose is abandoned or never pursued.
Probable Cause and Search Warrants: Safeguarding Property Rights in Seizures
The Supreme Court clarifies probable cause standards for search warrants, balancing law enforcement with constitutional property rights.
Due Diligence in Mortgage Transactions: Protecting Landowners From Fraudulent Transfers
When a bank accepts a mortgaged property with suspicious title transfers, it cannot claim good faith. Learn from this Supreme Court ruling.
Inventory of Estate: Donated Property Must Be Included for Collation Among Heirs
Supreme Court rules donated property must be included in estate inventory for collation, even if the deed was not notarized or registered.
Mortgage Foreclosure: Why a Bank Can Foreclose Despite Loan Transfer Doubts
Supreme Court ruling on when a bank may foreclose mortgaged property even if the borrower questions the assignment of loan receivables.
Prior Physical Possession Prevails: Understanding Forcible Entry in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies forcible entry rules: prior physical possession, not ownership, determines who stays on the property until lawful ejectment.
Adverse Claims and Execution Liens: Priority Rules in Philippine Property Law
When an adverse claim is annotated on a title before a levy on execution, the earlier claim prevails. This case explains the priority rule.
Double Sale or Ownership: Resolving Property Disputes in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts resolve property disputes, from double sales to registration issues, and what the Diaz v. Republic ruling means for landowners.
Perfected Sales vs Contracts to Sell: Ownership Transfer and Good Faith in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between a contract of sale and a contract to sell, and how good faith determines ownership in double sales.
Who Can Contest Property Taxes: Defining Legal Interest in Real Estate Assessments
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may protest real property tax assessments and what "legal interest" means under the Local Government Code.
Zoning Regulations Balancing Property Rights and Community Welfare in Urban Development
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on zoning laws, property rights, and homeowners associations opposing high-rise construction in commercial zones.
Forged Signatures and Land Disputes: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
A forged deed of sale transfers no title under Philippine law. Learn how the Supreme Court protected family property rights in this landmark ruling.
Prescription and Marital Consent: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on how prescription and laches can bar claims over conjugal property sold without the wife's consent.
Advertising Rights vs Public Authority: MMDA's Power Over MRT3 Advertisements
Supreme Court ruling on whether MMDA could dismantle billboards on MRT3, a private property under a build-lease-transfer agreement.
MMDA Has No Power to Dismantle Billboards on MRT3 Private Property
Supreme Court ruling that MMDA cannot dismantle billboards on MRT3 structures, clarifying the agency's limited administrative powers under RA 7924.
Rule 108 Limits: When Civil Registry Corrections Need Full Legal Action
Supreme Court clarifies when civil registry corrections exceed Rule 108 and require a full legal action to protect property rights.
Untangling Rescission: Prescription Periods in Philippine Property Sales
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the four-year prescriptive period for rescission of a sale starts, using the Quirong v. DBP case.