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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Mortgage Priority Good Faith Trumps Subsequent Attachment In Property Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on mortgage priority, good faith, and why unregistered attachments don't defeat prior real estate mortgages.
Intervention Denied: Protecting Court Efficiency in Property Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies when intervention in property cases is improper, emphasizing court efficiency and the need for direct legal interests.
Overcoming Jurisdictional Hurdles in Philippine Property Disputes: The Philippine Veterans Bank Case
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified jurisdictional boundaries between courts and DARAB in expropriation cases involving agrarian reform lands.
Writ of Preliminary Mandatory Injunction in Property Disputes: Protecting Possession Rights
When can a court issue a writ of preliminary mandatory injunction to restore possession in property disputes? The Supreme Court explains in Castro v. Se.
Preliminary Injunctions in the Philippines: Preserving Status Quo in Property Disputes
Learn when Philippine courts issue preliminary injunctions to preserve status quo, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Maunlad Homes v. Union Bank.
Preliminary Injunctions Protecting Possession Rights in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court protected possession rights through preliminary injunctions in Maunlad Homes v. Union Bank, and what this means for property disputes.
Res Judicata Explained: When a Prior Judgment Does Not Bar a Later Case
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of res judicata, distinguishing bar by prior judgment from conclusiveness of judgment in property disputes.
Final Judgment Rule: When Court Decisions in Property Disputes Become Immutable
The final judgment rule makes court decisions in property disputes final and executory. Learn the exceptions and practical implications.
Good Faith Construction: Defining Landowner and Builder Rights in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies rights of good faith builders and landowners under Civil Code Articles 448, 546, and 548.
Lis Pendens Cancellation: Which Court Has Jurisdiction Over Property Disputes
Learn which court can cancel a notice of lis pendens in Philippine property disputes, based on a 2010 Supreme Court ruling.
Finality Prevails: Citizenship Challenges Barred After Judgment in Property Disputes
A losing party cannot raise a buyer's citizenship after judgment becomes final. The Supreme Court explains why res judicata bars such challenges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Amparo and Property Rights: Clarifying the Boundaries of Protection
The Supreme Court clarifies that amparo and habeas data writs protect life, liberty, and security—not property disputes.
Article 448 and Final Judgments: Clarifying an Incomplete Fallo in Property Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling on when courts may complete an ambiguous dispositive portion even after finality, applying Article 448.
Navigating Improvements on Another's Land: Understanding Builders' Rights in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how Philippine courts handle improvements built on another's land, including the landowner's options under Article 448 of the Civil Code.
When Property Titles Arent Always What They Seem Understanding Encumbrances AND Conditional Sales
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a reconveyance claim prescribes, distinguishing fraud from intimidation, and the importance of due process in property disputes.
Jurisdiction Thresholds: Which Court Hears Real Property Disputes Based on Assessed Value
Philippine court jurisdiction over real property disputes hinges on assessed value. Learn the P20,000 threshold rule from a Supreme Court ruling.
Unregistered Land Sales: Why Registration Matters in Ownership Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling explains why an unregistered deed of sale cannot bind third parties in property disputes over unregistered land.
Unlawful Detainer vs. Accion Publiciana: How Courts Determine Jurisdiction in Property Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when a case is unlawful detainer (MTC) or accion publiciana (RTC), based on the complaint's allegations.
Combating Fraudulent Land Titles: Supreme Court Upholds Property Rights Against Forgery
A 2009 Supreme Court ruling clarifies how courts handle forged land titles, apparent authority, and lis pendens in property disputes.