We specialize in real estate law for U.S. companies and citizens purchasing property in Mexico.
Don't Let Your Dreams Become Your Nightmares.
Folsom Y Asociados, S.C., is one of only two U.S./Mexican law firm in Mexico. We are fully owned and operated by U.S. attorneys. All its members are fully bilingual and bicultural. It is authorized by the Mexican government to provide a full range of North American legal services to U.S. citizens and Mexicans. Its main areas of emphasis are real estate and business investments, international estate planning, and immigration. Folsom began operations in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico in 1994. Today, Folsom's primary place of business is in Cancun, Mexico, where it also offers legal services to Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya.
Folsom was conceived in, and grew as a natural consequence of, the extraordinary numbers of U.S. and Mexican citizens migrating within the North American continent, creating a need for someone who could work within both the U.S. and Mexican legal systems. Folsom, as one of the very few U.S. attorneys permitted to work in Mexico, is in the unique position to fill that need.
In addition to U.S. attorneys, Folsom provides its clients a team of professionals including Mexican attorneys, international lenders, private investigators, and nationally recognized experts in ejido lands. This combination of professionals, working side by side, ensures the highest standard of care including strict compliance with Mexican law, adherence to ethical standards of conduct, i.e., confidentiality, lack of self-dealing, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and an independent system of checks and balances.
You can trust us.
As a newly arrived foreigner interested in investing in the Riviera Maya or Costa Maya, one of the first decisions you will have to make is the decision who to trust. Few incoming U.S. or Canadian citizens have personal or professional contacts within the local business community. As a result, they tend to rely on information that they hear from other newly arrived foreigners, who may or may not be accurate in their understanding of the law and its current application. The other most readily available source of information to foreigners in the real estate market is the real estate agent. Many real estate agents are highly ethical, experienced professionals. Others, sadly, are not. These agents have been known to provide inaccurate information just to make the sale.
Compounding the problem is that the law in Mexico is in a constant state of flux in response to national and international politics and policies, and particularly as a result of relationships with the United States. This can, and frequently does, affect the manner that the laws are applied to any group of foreign nationals. One also cannot fail to understand the crucially important historical context of the land ownership laws in Mexico. To see your land purchase transaction in a vacuum is to fail to understand the constantly changing policies that should be shaping your decision making process.
It is our responsibility at Folsom to educate our clients and to protect their investments as they venture into a new and very different culture, business environment, and system of laws - that can change very rapidly both in substance and in application. It is our mission to ensure that our client's transactions strictly comply with Mexican law and that our clients enter into Mexican contracts with a full and accurate understanding of the law that will control them, and its current application; rather than on rumor or common, street understanding.
What We Do For You
Many U.S. citizens who have made the move to Mexico have had wonderful experiences. For others, however, it has been the worst decision of their lives. The obvious question is, "What makes the difference?" The answer is simple, "preparation".
We protect our clients by several means. First, we research and investigate every aspect of the land purchase or other investment transaction to ensure its legality. Second, we analyze all legal aspects of the transaction to determine whether, in the end, it will meet the client's expectations. Third, we ensure that the contracts are legal, binding, and enforceable and that the transaction complies with the strict letter of Mexican law and policy. Finally we educate our clients generally about the Mexican legal system and business protocol, which are significantly different than in the U.S. Also, we educate our clients about the Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Riviera Maya culture in general, so that the client does not inadvertently create unavoidable problems.