When it is necessary to hire a good Panamanian Lawyer. The importance of always consulting your lawyer in all type of new endeavors in Panama.

Legal or judicial problems usually cause a lot of stress which might lead to health problems. So if you lack the necessary experience on how to personally solve the legal matters or do the necessary it is better to leave the job to professionals in the field.

Like in most developed lawyers fees are not inexpensive (even though much more reasonable than in the United States or other developed countries) thus many people prefer to procrastinate before deciding to hire a lawyer and the time lost might make that a legal issue that at the beginning stages was easy to solve or settle might become worse through time or much more costly.

Cost problems concerning lawyers fees should not be a problem, since most legal practitioners in Panama do not charge for the first visit and if they are honest will be most willing to provide you with the steps that are to be followed and provide the client with a fee quotation and at what stages should all or part of it be paid.. Panamanian law provide for the fees (floor rates) that a lawyer can charge. The fee might be higher depending on the complexity of the case. Most law firms (except for those very renown in Panama or internationally are reasonable when charging fees and try to stick to the rates listed by the Panamanian government unless the case is complex in nature.

Usually commercial contracts in Panama or sales agreements only require the signatures of the parties involved. But the careful selection of words and the way the document is drafted can play a very important role when there are disagreements with partners and may turn into a nightmare if the case is taken to court years after the contract was signed.

When signing a purchase agreement or any transfer of ownership act it is always advisable that a Panamanian law firm consult how the property is registered and if there are any previous mortgages or lieus on said property. When signing with a bank or financial entity a mortgage it is always good for an attorney to check the fine print and what these clauses imply. Your lawyer can advise you what coverage is necessary, which insurance company to hire and by this avoiding wasteful and unnecessary spending.

Something that might have costed just a few extra dollars in lawyer can end up costing hundreds of thousands if you lose the case when taken to court.

If there are problems with your wife or husband that might lead to a divorce it is advisable to visit a lawyer you trust as soon as possible. A good and honest lawyer that is ethical will first try to advise the person or couple that it is better to reconcile and to maintain the wedding vowes. If there is no solution and the couple cannot remain together, it is good to ask your lawyer how to proceed with the divorce in the less painful way possible and most convenient for each side involved thus remaining in the best friendly terms with your former mate after the divorce case is settled.

If it is a labor case it is good to be well advised, since it is usual that the party representing the Corporation will be represented by top lawyers. On the contrary, on the employer side it is advisable to also hire a very good lawyer since in labor disputes a company can easily lose tens of thousands of dollars in a labor related lawsuit. It is important to remember that Panamanian law tends to favor the worker side and in case of reasonable doubt the verdict will usually favor the employee. “In dubio pro operario”.

When chartering companies, foundations or offshore corporations it is advisable to hire an experienced lawyer and for him to prepare the documents involved when chartering or incorporating the company so that the articles of incorporation and by-laws will abide to the Panamanian law and in full agreement with all the parties involved, so all future aspects of the the company such an increase in capital, separation of founding stockholders, income tax and other taxes, banks, going into debt or bankruptcy. It is good for each investor to be clear what his or her investment implies, especially if these are to be made in a foreign country like Panama where laws and jurisprudence are different to those . An honest lawyer will advise whether it is advisable or not to risk your money in this Business endeavor.

It is advisable to have a good Sawyer as a friendo whom you can trust and feel at ease that things are going well and when running into problems that you can rely on him or her legal advice on how to proceed in the best manner possible.

FESA ABOGADOS

“Your attorneys in Panama City, Panama.”