Fake Marriages and Forged Signatures: Why You Can’t Just “Erase” a Marriage Certificate Without Solid Proof TL;DR: Discovering a “phantom” marriage certificate in your name at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is a literal nightmare. But if you think you can easily wipe it out by simply claiming your signature was forged, think again. In […]

Doing Business in the Philippines: A Foreigner’s Guide to Republic Act No. 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act) For many foreign investors and expats, navigating the bureaucratic landscape of a new country can feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. Historically, setting up a shop or securing commercial permits in the Philippines gained a

Closing a Business in the Philippines Just Got Easier For expatriates, foreign investors, and digital nomads running a business in the Philippines, navigating local tax laws can be daunting. Historically, closing a business and cancelling its tax registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was notorious for being a lengthy, bureaucratic headache. However, under

Foreigners Can Face Jail Time Under VAWC for Not Paying Support TL;DR: Yes, foreign citizens can be criminally prosecuted and jailed in the Philippines for failing to provide financial child support. In the landmark decision of Norma A. Del Socorro v. Ernst Johan Brinkman Van Wilsem (G.R. No. 193707), the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that

Property Rights for Same-Sex Couples in the Philippines: How to Protect Your Joint Investments TL;DR: Yes, same-sex couples can legally protect and claim their shared properties when they separate. In the landmark ruling of Jennifer C. Josef v. Evalyn G. Ursua (G.R. No. 267469), the Philippine Supreme Court recognized that even though same-sex marriage is

Do You Need a Psychiatrist to Prove Psychological Incapacity? TL;DR: No, you do not need a clinical psychiatrist to prove your marriage is void due to psychological incapacity anymore. In the historic En Banc ruling of Rosanna L. Tan-Andal v. Mario Victor M. Andal (G.R. No. 196359), the Philippine Supreme Court threw out decades of

Legal Separation in the Philippines: Understanding What Constitutes “Grossly Abusive Conduct.” Can Constant Nagging and Humiliation Count as Legal Abuse? TL;DR: Yes, it absolutely can. In Garry B. Go v. Lynn Y. Chan-Go (G.R. No. 243647), the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that “grossly abusive conduct” does not require physical violence. If a spouse creates a

DSWD Certification: Vital in Adoption Proceedings. In the recent case of Eleazar R. Robiso v. Hon. Marie Grace Javier Ibay (G.R. No. 241893), the Supreme Court clarified a vital procedural and substantive requirement in Philippine adoption law: the necessity of a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) certification declaring a child legally available for

Proof of Foreign Divorce in Mixed Marriages. Whose Law Governs? Clarifying the Proof of Foreign Divorce in Mixed Marriages. For many Filipinos in mixed marriages, the path to legal freedom after a failed union abroad often leads back to Philippine courts for the recognition of a foreign divorce decree. However, a recent landmark ruling by