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.
How to Properly Close a Business with the BIR in the Philippines
Learn the correct steps to close a business with the BIR in the Philippines, including tax clearance, final returns, and avoiding penalties.
Legal Separation in the Philippines: Complete Guide to Grounds and Process
Learn the legal grounds for legal separation in the Philippines under the Family Code, plus the court process, effects, and practical steps.
Adoption in the Philippines: Procedure and Requirements Under RA 11642
Learn the domestic adoption procedure in the Philippines under RA 11642, including requirements, who may adopt, and the role of the NACC.
Child Custody in the Philippines: Who Gets Custody and How Courts Decide
Learn the rules for child custody in the Philippines, how courts decide who gets custody, and what factors matter most.
Intestate Succession and Legitime in the Philippines: Who Inherits
Understand intestate succession in the Philippines, how legitime protects compulsory heirs, and who inherits when there is no will.
When an Appeal Is Dismissed for Late Brief: The Licup Ruling on Substantial Justice
The Supreme Court nullified the CA's dismissal of an appeal due to a late brief, citing substantial justice and liberty interests.
Psychological Incapacity and the Value of Expert Reports in Philippine Marriage Nullity Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a psychological report can prove psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36: Abandonment, Infidelity, and the Cabutaje Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies proof requirements for psychological incapacity in the Cabutaje case, addressing abandonment, infidelity, and expert testimony.
When Lawyers Fail Clients: The Sore-Romano Disbarment Case Explained
A lawyer suspended five years for negligence, dishonesty, and IBP defiance—what this means for clients and the legal profession.
When Courts Relax the Rules: Attorney Negligence and Due Process in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court explains when procedural rules may be relaxed to protect workers' right to due process despite counsel's negligence.
Who Can Annul a Bigamous Marriage in the Philippines? SC Explains
The Supreme Court clarifies that only the aggrieved or injured innocent spouse may petition to nullify a bigamous marriage—not the guilty party.
Marital Infidelity and Psychological Violence: Understanding RA 9262
The Supreme Court clarifies when marital infidelity becomes psychological violence under RA 9262, and whether a psychological report is required for conviction.
Conjugal Property Presumptions: Protecting Separate Assets from a Spouse's Debts
Learn how the Supreme Court protects separate property from a spouse's debts and what evidence overcomes the conjugal presumption.
Premarital Pregnancy and Employee Rights: Illegal Suspension in the Philippines
Supreme Court rules suspending a teacher for premarital pregnancy is illegal; secular morality governs employment discipline in the Philippines.
Lawyer Negligence and Client Funds: Supreme Court Suspends Attorney for Two Years
A lawyer who neglects a client's case, ignores demands for updates, and keeps client funds faces suspension. The Supreme Court explains why.
Abandonment in Agrarian Leaseholds: What Farmers and Landowners Must Know
The Supreme Court clarifies when a farmer's absence amounts to abandonment—and why notarized documents alone cannot end a leasehold.
Proving Filiation for Inheritance: Delayed Birth Registration in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how delayed birth registrations and other evidence establish filiation for inheritance claims in the Philippines.
Psychological Incapacity: Abandonment and Absence as Evidence in Philippine Marriage Nullity Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that decades of unjustified absence from the marital home can be considered part of the totality of evidence of psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code
VAWC Act Applies to Lesbian Relationships: Women Can Be Held Liable as Offenders
The Supreme Court confirms that RA 9262 covers violence by a woman against her female partner, protecting all women from intimate partner abuse.
Gym Liability in the Philippines: Negligence, Member Disclosure, and the Slimmers World Case
Who pays when a gym member suffers a medical emergency? The Supreme Court's Slimmers World ruling clarifies negligence, causation, and member responsibility.
Tax Assessment Time Limits: How a Missed Deadline Can Save You Millions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tax assessment prescription periods, false returns, and why the BIR's missed deadlines can invalidate deficiency assessments.
When Is an Accusation Enough? Conspiracy and Probable Cause After the Pastor Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when a co-accused's confession can establish conspiracy and probable cause, and when it cannot.
Proving Adultery in the Philippines: The Valencia Case and the Burden of Proof
Understand the high standard of proof for adultery in the Philippines through the Valencia case, including evidence rules and practical implications.
Qualified Rape vs. Statutory Rape: Supreme Court Clarifies Child Sexual Abuse Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the proper legal designation for child sexual abuse cases, distinguishing qualified rape from statutory rape under Philippine law.