Hiring a Costa Rica Attorney – Business, Residency, Real Estate

Costa Rican attorneys are the resource for legal advice and for the application of laws  of Costa Rica. Lawyers, like the U.S,  practice specialties such as criminal law, immigration law, domestic or family law, trademark law, offshore banking, investment and financial law to name but a few.  In Costa Rica, lawyer is termed “abogado”, the Portuguese word for lawyer. The most common reasons to hire an attorney are the following:

• Incorporate a new company or trade agreements.
• Apply for residency
• Purchase real estate (this is a must)
• Start a business

If somehow you get involved in a criminal activity, Costa Rica is a complexity of  Napoleonic law.  In other words, Guilty until Proven Innocent! You may sit in jail for a year (and/or just rot depending on the nature of the crime)  before someone will look at the case and/or a bond can be posted. Drugs, sex with a child, etc  these type of cases are treated very harshly.

If you think you have a civil suit, such as, suing a poor coffee shop owner when you got burnt on a cup of coffee, chances are it will get laugh out of court, while your attorney is laughing all the way to the bank. If you think you have suffered some mental condition, forget it! Like most Latin Countries, unless one sees blood, there is no case.

Costa Rica does have some of the best business attorneys in the world and depending on how influential the attorney is, expect to pay anywhere from $30 from a small town, single room office attorney, to $200/hr for a huge San Jose corporate firm.

Costa Rica lawyers are easily found in phone books, online, advertisements and from the U.S Embassy in San Jose.  Should you find a need for a Costa Rica lawyer, do not leap on the first one you come across. You may not be selecting the correct type of attorney at all. Imagine that you are in need of a lawyer to complete your application for permanent residence. So, if you make an indiscriminate choice with no research, you may end up with a lawyer that only has expertise with banking and  investments. In order to assure that your attorney is capable of fulfilling your requirements, research before retaining  and this will save you a lot of time and headachs.

One of the thing you may discover, Costa Rica lawyer websites often are not in Costa Rica, but in the U.S.. However, don’t be alarmed, this may be okay, considering Costa Rica’s internet service, or ICE,  is not as good as the U.S. Tico Times directory/blog, the website resides in the U.S.

Expats (and even tourists) regularly require the services of a lawyer to help them legally and properly invest in real estate, business and to obtain residency, because they are unfamiliar with Costa Rican laws and requirements and they need quality, reliable information.

When selecting a lawyer in Costa Rica, look for  representative that specializes in your area of concern. Research multiple candidates until you are certain you have found a capable, honest, experienced and knowledgeable consultant. Many Attorneys have schooled in the US and are fluent in English, and some speak several languages.

Whichever way,  research in person, online or by word of mouth, you will get a long list. You can narrow the results by searching for the specific sort of attorney you need. Once you have refined the list, contact the lawyers with questions about your issue until you find one (or a firm) that you are sure will capably carry out your assignment.

Don’t hire the first lawyer you find.

No doubt the best way in getting an attorney is the reference or recommendations of friends and relatives.  Try to personally consult with various attorneys, and do not be afraid to ask questions.

By doing your diligent research to find an appropriate Costa Rica lawyer, you will be assured of having your legal concerns addressed successfully.

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