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.
Preterition in Philippine Wills: When Omitting a Compulsory Heir Invalidates Inheritance
Learn how preterition—omitting a compulsory heir—can annul a will's heir institution under Philippine law, with insights from Trinidad v. Trinidad.
Probating a Foreign Will in the Philippines: Lessons from a Landmark Case
Learn the formalities for probating foreign wills in the Philippines, from a landmark Supreme Court case on foreign law proof.
Notarizing With an Expired Commission: A Cautionary Tale for Legal Practitioners
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for notarizing with an expired commission. Learn the rules, the ruling, and the practical takeaways.
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.
Can a Notary Public Also Be a Witness? Philippine Rules Explained
Philippine law generally allows a notary public to also witness the documents they notarize, except for wills. Learn the rules and limits.
Modal Institutions in Philippine Wills: Heirs' Obligations and the Rabadilla Ruling
Learn how modal institutions in Philippine wills impose enforceable obligations on heirs, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Rabadilla v. Court of Appeals.