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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Court Jurisdiction in Property Disputes: Agrarian Reform vs Civil Action
Supreme Court clarifies when property disputes fall under regular courts rather than DARAB, using jurisdictional rules.
Redemption Rights Strict Tender Of Full Payment Required In Foreclosure Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on strict tender of full payment for property redemption after extrajudicial foreclosure.
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.
Family Home Exemption in the Philippines: Limits on Execution and the Duty to Prove Claims
A Supreme Court ruling shows that the family home exemption from levy is not automatic—the person claiming it must substantiate that the property is still a family home.
Double Sale and Good Faith Registration: Pagaduan v. Ocuma on Property Rights
Explore how the Supreme Court ruled on double sale, good faith registration, and prescription in Pagaduan v. Ocuma.
Writ of Possession Limits: When Third-Party Adverse Claims Block Foreclosure Ejectment
A bank cannot use an ex parte writ of possession to eject third parties claiming adverse ownership of foreclosed property; due process requires a full hearing.
Sellers Obligation Delivering Titles Despite Encumbrances IN Philippine Property LAW
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on subdivision sellers' duty to deliver clean titles despite encumbrances, and buyer remedies.
Demolishing a Leased Property Without Consent: Ejectment and Damages in Philippine Law
A lessee who demolished a leased house without the lessor's consent was validly ejected. Learn the rules on lease violations, damages, and summary procedure.
Court Personnel and Property Transfers: When "Facilitation" Becomes Dishonesty
A court stenographer's dismissal for accepting money to process land titles shows why court personnel must avoid moonlighting in property transactions.
Real Property Tax: What Counts as Pollution Control Equipment for Exemption
The Supreme Court clarifies when pollution control structures qualify for real property tax exemption under the Local Government Code.
Notice of Lis Pendens: How It Affects Mortgagees and Subsequent Property Transactions
Learn how a notice of lis pendens binds mortgagees and buyers, and why a court order alone does not cancel it under Philippine law.
Conjugal Property and Spousal Liability: Defining Benefit Under the Family Code
When can a spouse's personal debt be charged against conjugal property? The Supreme Court clarifies the Rule Under Article 122
Forged Signatures and Public Trust: Examining Falsification of Documents by Public Officials
A lawyer's deceitful sale of client property leads to suspension, exploring falsification claims and professional responsibility.
When Can a Club Seize a Member's Share? The Valley Golf Case on By-Laws and Property Rights
A club cannot seize a fully paid membership share for unpaid dues without proper notice and hearing, says the Supreme Court.
Membership Termination in Non-Stock Corporations: Safeguarding Property Rights
The Calatagan Golf Club case clarifies that non-stock corporations must strictly follow their own by-laws before terminating membership or selling shares.
Land Ownership Disputes: Grounds for Dismissal in Property Recovery Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when dismissal is improper in property recovery cases, emphasizing that prescription, laches, and res judicata require proof.
Protecting Your Property Purchase: The Innocent Purchaser for Value Doctrine in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court protects innocent purchasers for value under Philippine property law, and what buyers must do to secure their titles.
Co-Ownership and Property Recovery: When Must All Owners Join a Lawsuit
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when co-owners must be impleaded in property recovery suits under Article 487 of the Civil Code.
Conflicting Land Titles: Why Prior Titles Prevail in Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conflicting land titles, explaining why earlier certificates of title prevail over later ones in property disputes.
Revival of Judgment Safeguarding Property Rights After Forcible Entry
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on co-owner recovery actions, tenant protections under P.D. 1517, and property rights enforcement.
In Ejectment, Courts Cannot Decide Issues Beyond the Pleadings
In Sioson v. Heirs of Avanceña, the Court rules ejectment courts cannot adjudicate claims over property not alleged in the complaint—only the disputed lot's possession is at issue.
Ejectment and Intervention: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ejectment cases, intervention timing, and the rights of non-parties bound by judgments.
Proof Beyond Doubt Establishing Heirship IN Property Disputes
Mortgage Validity and Foreclosure: Protecting Property Rights Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a mortgage is void, how redemption periods work, and why prior judgments bind parties in foreclosure disputes.