Practice Areas
Annulment & Separation
There is no divorce in the Philippines. Annulment is the court process in which marital union between the husband and wife is dissolved...
Adoption
In the Philippines, all domestic adoptions are implemented in accordance with Republic Act No. 8552, The Domestic Adoption Act of 1998...
Child Custody
The right of custody accorded to parents springs from the exercise of parental authority (Masbate v. Relucio, G.R. No. 235498, July 30, 2018). The petition for custody of...
Domestic Violence
Republic Act No. RA 9262 , otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Law (“VAWC”), defines violence against women...
Incorporation
SNLaw is an expert in assisting clients with their legal needs and concerns regarding organization and establishment...
Visa Applications
SNLAW offers legal services for foreigners who are interested in applying for certain types of visa in the Philippines....
Property Settlements
In general, only Filipino citizens and corporations or partnerships with at least 60% of the shares owned by Filipinos are entitled to...
Due Diligence
The firm offers the conduct of due diligence to the clients as it is crucial in commercial dealings and property acquisitions....
Child Custody
The right of custody accorded to parents springs from the exercise of parental authority (Masbate v. Relucio, G.R. No. 235498, July 30, 2018). The petition for custody of minors shall be filed with the Family Court of the province or city where the petitioner resides or where the minor may be found. In awarding custody, the court shall consider the best interests of the minor and shall give paramount consideration to his material and moral welfare. The hearings on custody of minors may, at the discretion of the court, be closed to the public and the records of the case shall not be released to non-parties without its approval.
Annulment & Separation
There is no divorce in the Philippines. Annulment is the court process in which marital union between the husband and wife is dissolved — it presupposes that marriage is valid from the beginning until annulled by the Court. Petitions for nullity of marriage are based on grounds under the Family Code. The more common grounds are psychological incapacity, minority (under 18 years old), lack of marriage license, bigamous and polygamous marriages.
SNLaw has handled numerous annulment cases with favorable feedback from clients.
Domestic Violence
Republic Act No. RA 9262 , otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Law (“VAWC”), defines violence against women and children as “any act or a series of acts against a woman who is his wife, former wife or against a woman with whom the person has or had sexual or dating relationship, or against her child, whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without family abode, which result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty”.
A novel concept in Philippine law is Psychological violence, which refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or emotional suffering of the victim. Another victory for women is the inclusion of economic abuse in the VAWC. Economic abuse refers to acts that make or attempt to make a woman financially dependent. Under VAWC, a Petition for Protection Order may be filed. A protection order is an order issued for the purpose of preventing further acts of violence against a woman or her child specified and granting other necessary relief. The protection orders that may be issued are the barangay protection order (BPO), temporary protection order (TPO) and permanent protection order (PPO).
Adoption
In the Philippines, all domestic adoptions are implemented in accordance with Republic Act No. 8552, The Domestic Adoption Act of 1998. Adoption undergoes court processes to be valid in so far as the Philippine laws are concerned. Hearings are assigned to family courts, the conduct of which are strictly confidential and not open to the public. As an effect of the adoption, all legal ties between the biological parent(s) and the adoptee shall be severed and the same shall then be vested on the adopter(s). Also, an amended certificate of birth shall be issued by the Civil Registry.
The firm offers all legal services from filing of the petition and other necessary pleadings, coordination with the social worker and appearances in the court-supervised trials as required in the adoption process.
Incorporation
SNLaw is an expert in assisting clients with their legal needs and concerns regarding organization and establishment of partnership, corporations i.e. one-person corporation, 2-3 person corporation, regular stock incorporation, including setting up of charitable organizations, foundations or non-stock, non-profit corporations.
The firm endeavors to help clients by offering a full package of services:
- Reservation of Company Name
- Assessment and restructuring of capital requirements for incorporation
- Drafting of Articles of Incorporation/Partnership (AOI/AOP) and By-Laws
- Appointment of shareholders, directors, nominee directors, and incorporators
- Appointment of corporate secretary, treasurer, and other corporate officers
- Opening of a local bank account
- Processing of registration documents with appropriate government agencies i.e. SSS, PHIC, HMDF, etc.
- Application for Tax Identification Numbers (TINs)
- Application for business permits and licenses
Due Diligence
The process involves measures to be conducted in order to conclude a certain deal or business in which both parties need to be precautious in contract review, procurement of relevant documents and doing an investigation of a person, company or conditions/status of a property subject of negotiation and acquisition. For example, before buying land, the buyer usually conducts due diligence on the land and the seller. In hiring employees, the employer investigates the background of the applicant. Before signing a contract, both parties conduct due diligence on each other.
The firm offers the conduct of due diligence to the clients as it is crucial in commercial dealings and property acquisitions as it ensures that all documents and contracts concerning the transaction are in order`without stressing on issues that may ensue from third parties, encumbrances, liens or other factors which will incapacitate the parties, or militate against adherence of the parties to the contract.
Visa Applications (9g, SVEG, SRRV, etc.)
SNLAW offers legal services for foreigners who are interested in applying for certain types of visa in the Philippines.
9g (Work Visa) – is a Philippine working visa for foreigners entering the Philippines to engage in a lawful occupation. In general, it must be shown that the services of the foreign national are indispensable to the management, operation, administration, or control of local or locally-based firms.
Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG) is a special visa issued to a qualified non-immigrant foreigner who shall actually employ at least 10 Filipinos in a lawful and sustainable enterprise, trade, or industry. Qualified foreign nationals who are granted the SVEG shall be considered special non-immigrants with multiple entry privileges and conditional extended stay, without the need of prior departure from the Philippines. The privileges under the SVEG extend to the qualified foreigner, his/her spouse, and dependent unmarried child/children below 18 years of age whether legitimate, illegitimate, or adopted.
Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) is a special non-immigrant visa for foreign nationals who would like to make the Philippines their second home or investment destination.
Judicial Titling of Tax declaration properties
The process of applying for a title for properties still covered by tax declarations is known as Original Land Registration which must go through court proceedings. Accordingly, the court will issue an order directing the Register of Deeds to issue an Original Certificate of Title for the subject property.
The firm assist clients in drafting the necessary pleadings and procurement of relevant and pertinent documents supporting the petition such as the original or certified true copies of the tax declarations, property sketch plan, certifications from DENR, RD, and other government agencies concerned, and judicial affidavits from persons occupying or possessing the property or owners that they have been in possession of the property for more than 30 years and that their possession is open, adverse and notorious.
Property Acquisition, Transfer & Settlements
In general, only Filipino citizens and corporations or partnerships with at least 60% of the shares owned by Filipinos are entitled to own or acquire land in the Philippines. Foreigners or non-Philippine nationals may, however, purchase condominiums, buildings, and enter into a long-term land lease.
SNLaw can assist foreigners, expatriates/expats, former Filipino nationals, OFWs, Balikbayans, and corporations purchasing and acquiring real property in the Philippines. The firm provides services for conduct of due diligence, legal opinions on relevant information on Philippine laws and regulations pertaining to purchase and acquisition, preparation, contract review and notarization of deeds, asset protection, estate planning and settlement, and tax minimization.