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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Protecting THE Family Home Clarifying Exemptions From Execution Under THE Family Code
Psychological Incapacity and Marital Obligations: Understanding the Limits of Annulment in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that marital flaws, refusal, or neglect do not amount to psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code.
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.
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
Guardianship Betrayal: How the Supreme Court Views Rape Within Foster Family Structures
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of a foster father and foster brother for raping an 11-year-old girl, clarifying key rules on qualified rape, medical evidence, and the credibility of child v
Homestead Patents and Mortgage Restrictions: Protecting Family Lands From Encumbrances
The Supreme Court voids mortgages on homestead lands made within five years of patent issuance, protecting family properties from premature encumbrances.
Psychological Incapacity Reassessing Marital Nullity Under Article 36 of the Family Code
The Supreme Court clarifies that psychological incapacity under Article 36 need not fit rigid molds, urging a case-by-case, totality-of-circumstances approach.
Accounting for Family Wealth: Default Judgments and the Limits of Contempt in Intra-Family Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies default judgment rules, appeal periods, and why contempt is not the remedy for disobeying a remand order.
Family Home Exempt from Execution: When Courts Must Inquire Before Levy and Sale
Supreme Court voids execution sale of alleged family home, requiring trial courts to conduct proper inquiry before levying exempt properties.
Protecting the Family Home When Courts Must Investigate Exemption Claims
The Supreme Court voids a writ of execution where the trial court ignored claims that the property was an exempt family home.
Preserving Family Lands: The Right to Repurchase in Free Patent Cases
Learn how heirs can repurchase family land under free patents even after foreclosure, based on a 2008 Supreme Court ruling.
Protecting Children's Rights, Conjugal Property, and Execution of Judgments
When can a conjugal property be sold to pay a spouse's personal debt? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of execution against family assets.
Tenant Rights VS Family Ties Establishing Valid Tenancy IN Agricultural Land Disputes
Upholding Corporate Stability When Courts Defer to Internal Disputes
How the Supreme Court resolved a family corporate dispute by deferring to amended pleadings, docket fee rules, and the limits of injunctions.
Defining Employer When Family Administration Creates Social Security Obligations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a family member managing a hacienda becomes an "employer" liable for SSS contributions.
Psychological Incapacity: Defining the Limits of Annulment Under the Family Code
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that psychological incapacity under Article 36 requires grave, incurable, and antecedent illness—not mere refusal or personality quirks.
Valid Substituted Service and Child Support Rights in Philippine Family Law
Supreme Court ruling on valid substituted service of summons for OFW parents and the right of illegitimate children to support.
The Burden of Proof in Philippine Property Disputes: Lessons from Spouses Anchinges v. Spouses Albarillo
A family property dispute shows why courts require preponderance of evidence, not just claims, in Philippine civil cases.
Loan VS Profit Share THE Supreme Courts Stance ON Proving Debt AND Ownership IN Family Businesses
Partnership vs Loan: Proving the True Nature of Money Transfers in Family Business Disputes
When is a transfer of funds a loan rather than a share of profits? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules of evidence in family business disputes.
Marital Consent Is Key: Spousal Rights in Property Sales Under Article 124
Supreme Court voids a husband's sale of conjugal property without his wife's consent, explaining Article 124 of the Family Code.
Integrity in Public Service: Due Process in Administrative Misconduct Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on grave misconduct clarifies due process, family interests, and compromise authority in administrative cases.
Dismissal vs Compassion: Balancing Employee Misconduct and Employment Security
The Supreme Court ruled that dismissal was too harsh for an employee's lapses during family crises, affirming that compassion tempers discipline.
Amendment of Pleadings, Family Home Protection, and the Perils of Procedural Shortcuts
A Supreme Court ruling on partition, indirect contempt procedure, and the automatic constitution of the family home under the Family Code.