Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
#1
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Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
Thought I would make a separate topic on this, as opposed to cluttering up Pete's topic.
In general it seems that the ruling is that as a Non-Filipino you are allowed to inherit land/property to do with as you wish ( seemingly with the exception of leaving it to another expat in your will ). There seems to be no time limit to how long you can have it, but there are strings attached as you will see below.
I shall review some of the legal sites and see if one I can decipher them and if the agree with this one and approach my local lawyer/judge then post my findings.
Using our common example of Fil-Foreign family, let’s look at what happens when the Filipino partner passes away. (nothing really happens property-wise when the foreigner partner passes, since s/he never owned the property to begin with). Wills are much less common here than in many developed countries. But they certainly are used. But when real property is involved, there is a basic underlying law which takes precedence over any language in a will. Philippine law stipulates a reserved portion of all estates for compulsory heirsCertain parts of the estate of a deceased Filipino citizen cannot be freely disposed of because Philippines law reserves them for the “compulsory heirs”. The “compulsory heirs” are classified as:
In general it seems that the ruling is that as a Non-Filipino you are allowed to inherit land/property to do with as you wish ( seemingly with the exception of leaving it to another expat in your will ). There seems to be no time limit to how long you can have it, but there are strings attached as you will see below.
I shall review some of the legal sites and see if one I can decipher them and if the agree with this one and approach my local lawyer/judge then post my findings.
Using our common example of Fil-Foreign family, let’s look at what happens when the Filipino partner passes away. (nothing really happens property-wise when the foreigner partner passes, since s/he never owned the property to begin with). Wills are much less common here than in many developed countries. But they certainly are used. But when real property is involved, there is a basic underlying law which takes precedence over any language in a will. Philippine law stipulates a reserved portion of all estates for compulsory heirsCertain parts of the estate of a deceased Filipino citizen cannot be freely disposed of because Philippines law reserves them for the “compulsory heirs”. The “compulsory heirs” are classified as:
- Primary – legitimate children and/or descendants
- Secondary – legitimate parents and/or descendants; illegitimate parents
- Concurring – surviving spouse; illegitimate children and/or descendants
#2
Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
An excellent post. As a foreigner one must assume that you are not going to own land in the Philippines until the law changes. You should get over it and move on.
#3
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Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
I shall continue to investigate and take advise from the local guy ( who over the last few years has refused any compensation for advise he has given, making me assume he is maybe one of the good guys ). Shall revert once I have got my head around it. If anyone has other sources of info please add as this could be important to some who are thinking of coming here.
#4
Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
It depends on your circumstances, especially concerning kids and in-laws. I am maybe in the lucky group that my wife has no kids and at our age we are not going to be having any, my kids live in Norway anyway and with my lifestyle am unlikely to out live my wife anyway.
I shall continue to investigate and take advise from the local guy ( who over the last few years has refused any compensation for advise he has given, making me assume he is maybe one of the good guys ). Shall revert once I have got my head around it. If anyone has other sources of info please add as this could be important to some who are thinking of coming here.
I shall continue to investigate and take advise from the local guy ( who over the last few years has refused any compensation for advise he has given, making me assume he is maybe one of the good guys ). Shall revert once I have got my head around it. If anyone has other sources of info please add as this could be important to some who are thinking of coming here.
#5
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Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
Does your wife have siblings as they will inherit ahead of you. Of course if you don't expect to out live your wife the whole subject is mute anyway. What you must be careful about when taking advice from your local guy is that he may be pretty cute when it come to Philippine law and filipinos but may be very shaky with regards to Philippine law and foreigners. Unless it's a subject he specialises in, then we could all do with his name.
The local guy is unlike most locals, who believe they know everything, when you ask him anything that he does not know the answer to he admits it straight away and goes away and reads up on it before he gives me a reply and then also gives me a copy of his notes on his investigation.
#6
Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
Wife believes that she may have a step sister but has no idea of name, where she lives or even if she is alive.
The local guy is unlike most locals, who believe they know everything, when you ask him anything that he does not know the answer to he admits it straight away and goes away and reads up on it before he gives me a reply and then also gives me a copy of his notes on his investigation.
The local guy is unlike most locals, who believe they know everything, when you ask him anything that he does not know the answer to he admits it straight away and goes away and reads up on it before he gives me a reply and then also gives me a copy of his notes on his investigation.
#7
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Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
The non fee maybe because his daughter has a crush on me and had said to her mum that she was going to marry me, when she was told I was already married to Ate Dee she said that was OK she would be my girlfriend instead, she was 3 years old at the time.
#8
Re: Expats Owning Land/property in Philippines
For the few bits and pieces I have asked him about or he has done for me he has always refused any payment, I have given a decent bottle whiskey or brandy via his wife.
The non fee maybe because his daughter has a crush on me and had said to her mum that she was going to marry me, when she was told I was already married to Ate Dee she said that was OK she would be my girlfriend instead, she was 3 years old at the time.
The non fee maybe because his daughter has a crush on me and had said to her mum that she was going to marry me, when she was told I was already married to Ate Dee she said that was OK she would be my girlfriend instead, she was 3 years old at the time.