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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Bigamous Marriage and Property Rights: When No Contribution Means No Co-Ownership
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property acquired during a bigamous marriage and the crucial role of actual contribution in determining ownership.
Eminent Domain vs Land Titles: When Government Delay Fortifies Private Property Rights
Supreme Court ruling on how government delay in paying just compensation and registering expropriated land strengthens private landowners' Torrens titles.
Uninterrupted Possession Acquiring Property Rights Through Acquisitive Prescription
Explore how extraordinary acquisitive prescription works under Philippine law, using a Supreme Court ruling on adverse possession.
Due Process and Property Rights in Housing Programs: Lessons from Espinocilla v. Bagong Tanyag
The Supreme Court clarifies that due process in housing programs requires notice and hearing, not vested property rights from mere occupancy.
Upholding Property Rights: Finality of Court Decisions and Easement Disputes
A court cannot create a right-of-way through an execution order that contradicts its final and executory decision dismissing the case.
Equitable Mortgage VS Absolute Sale Protecting Property Rights IN Disguised Transactions
The Supreme Court nullifies a bank's foreclosure on property mortgaged without the owner's authority, reinforcing strict rules on special powers of attorney.
Possession AND Good Faith Understanding Property Rights IN THE Philippines
Intellectual Property Rights and the Scope of Search Warrants in Trademark Infringement Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court defined the proper scope of search warrants in trademark infringement cases involving intellectual property rights.
Survival of Actions: Protecting Property Rights After Death in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when lawsuits survive a party's death, focusing on property rights and heir substitution.
Quieting Title in the Philippines: How to Protect Your Property Rights
Learn how Philippine courts resolve property ownership disputes through quieting title actions, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Imbat v. Soliven.
Lack of Property Rights: Why a Valid Claim Is Essential to File a Case in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts require a valid claim or property right to file a case. This article explains the rule and its practical implications.
Double Sale in the Philippines: How Good Faith and Prior Knowledge Decide Property Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on double sale: a second buyer who registers first but knows of the first sale acts in bad faith and loses.
Binding Compromises: Why a Portion of Fort Bonifacio Meant All in Philippine Property Disputes
The Supreme Court ruled that BCDA validly owns Fort Bonifacio, allowing eviction of illegal occupants. A case on property rights and the Lina Law.
Land Title Forever: Why Court Decisions in Land Registration Cases Don't Expire in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling confirms that prescription and laches do not bar enforcement of final land registration judgments, protecting property rights indefinitely.
Illegal Demolition as Grave Coercion: Property Rights and Due Process in the Philippines
When does demolition become a crime? The Sy case shows how unlawful property destruction can constitute grave coercion under Philippine law.
Unprobated Wills and Ejectment: Why Probate Is Required Before Claiming Property Rights in the Philippines
An unprobated will has no legal effect in Philippine courts. Learn why probate is mandatory before asserting inheritance rights in property disputes.
Spousal Consent and Mortgage Validity: Protecting Marital Property Rights
Learn how spousal consent protects marital property from fraudulent transfers, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on void titles.
Balancing Property Rights and Public Welfare: When Can the Government Demolish a Structure
The Supreme Court clarifies when the government may demolish structures on public land and the limits of its power.
Balancing Property Rights and Law Enforcement: The Release of Seized Goods in Intellectual Property Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the release of seized goods in IP cases, balancing property rights and law enforcement.
Balancing Property Rights: Reimbursement for Improvements on Leased Land
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tenant's right to reimbursement for house built on leased land, offset against unpaid rent.
Just Compensation and Due Process: Protecting Landowners from Unjustified Government Taking
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on just compensation and due process in expropriation cases, protecting landowners' property rights.
Tolerance Ends Unlawful Detainer AND Property Rights IN THE Philippines
When does tolerated possession become unlawful detainer? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on jurisdiction, demand, and ownership claims.
CO Ownership AND Laches Understanding Property Rights AND Delays IN Legal Claims IN THE Philippines
Beyond Boundaries: How Erroneous Land Awards Undermine Property Rights and Due Process
When a buyer is evicted from purchased land, the proper remedy is warranty against eviction—not specific performance. This case explains why.