In an effort to educate as many people as this column can reach, we touched on many legal issues surrounding our lives in Mexico. Our office deals with many issues that we are faced with each and every... read more

The requirement of an Apostille (ah-poh-steel) is an important new development for international travelers. An Apostille is an additional certification that will be required for all notar... read more

The labor laws for the Republic of Mexico vary for each type of employee, and each type of employer. Unfortunately, very few of us who hire maids and gardeners, hire them according to the law. We hire ... read more

Common sense goes a long way, no matter which country you live in. Different countries have different criteria on certain things: procedures and paperwork on house closings, passport requirements; even... read more

Last month, we mentioned filing a letter with Customs asking the proper interpretation of the law surrounding imported vehicles, which is article 106. We received the reply which has been translated an... read more

Our last article discussed the basic importation regulations around foreign plated vehicles. This needed to be addressed as some vehicle seizures were made in Puerto Vallarta, and because a reasonable ... read more

Most months we try to cover current trends and rumors in the foreign community. These past few weeks has generated the worst of these rumors. It all started when the authorities in Puerto Vallarta seiz... read more

Here are two widely varying topics. Marriage, everyone loves to talk about. Divorce, not a very popular topic. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they are facts of life. Many people come to us inquiring ab... read more

It would seem that any given month produces one rumor or another. This month it is about wills in Mexico. All of a sudden everyone is asking how to get a will in Mexico. Now this is usually a topic th... read more

One thing most of foreigners have done at one time or another is bringing items across the border into Mexico. Whether it was in your luggage flying in, in your car driving in, or in a transport truck ... read more

An increasing problem we come across these days has to do with the workload being put on Immigration, and reluctance of the Federal Government due to budget cutbacks to add any staff to alleviate this ... read more

All foreigners to Mexico who apply for and receive an FM3 permanent residence document are carefully instructed by the Mexican officials that the newly documented resident has the one-time right to imp... read more

1. It shall be excluded from the family insurance: the holder of the family insured, the additional beneficiary or member, if the have:

Any pre-existing disease, such as malign tumors, cronic degenerated diseases, such as delayed complications of mellitus diabetes, disease (gaucher disease), cronic diseases on liver, cronical renal failure, valvular diseases continuance, (arrhythmia, angor, myocardial infaction) cronic obstructive lung disease with respiratory failure, degenerative diseases of central and peripheral nervous system, vascular cerebral disease continuance, peripheral vascular failure, among others.

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This is a well-organized and clearly presented compilation of data about this country that any newcomers - and some old-timers, too - could use. read more

Dreaming of that storybook wedding on a scenic cliff above crashing ocean waves, blessed by a Mexican sunset while mariachis croon? Or amid bougainvillea'd stone arches in a colonial setting? Few place... read more

If I'm living in Mexico, with no traces of a residence in the U.S. other than a past history, do I need to have a Will drawn up in Mexico? Or do I need a Mexican Will for my Mexican assets and a U.S. Will for my U.S. assets?

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My fiancée and I are planning a wedding in Puerto Morelos on September 4,1999. We are having a difficult time finding information on:

1. Blood test info
2. How long do we have to reside in Mexico before the wedding
3. Marriage license info

If anyone has access to this information or other pertinent marriage info in Mexico we would greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks.

PS. We're also interested in Mexican wedding tradition.

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I received my permiso last week and the boda civil is planned for 8/7. For those of you who have seen my previous postings, this is an update. For new readers, this is one gringa's encounters with Mexican bureaucracy--my fiancé is from Monterrey, we live in Nuevo Laredo, I am a daily border crosser because I work in Laredo, and my novio prefers to live/work/study in Mexico.

Be prepared for different information from every office you inquire at. The Mexican Consulate in Laredo gave us one set of instructions, the Office of Migracion in Nuevo Laredo another, and when we got to the Office of Migracion in Monterrey, we received yet another set of instructions.

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Foreigners can buy or invest in real estate in Mexico without any restriction, except in the coastal and border areas. There, foreign individuals and branches of foreign corporations can have 100% cont... read more

Sure, it's possible for two US citizens to obtain a divorce from one another in Baja California. Whether it's wise is another matter.

In the old days, before "no fault" or irreconcilable differences grounds became prevalent, Mexican divorces were popular because of the difficulty of obtaining a divorce in certain states. As a result, many Mexican "quickie" divorces did nothing more lighten the litigants' pockets and fill them with the false notion that the marriage had actually been dissolved.

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If a minor child is not escorted by both parents, a notarized consent from the absent parent is required. A similar consent from both parents must accompany the child traveling along or escorted by a nonparent. A U.S. court order authorizing the travel can substitute for an absent parent who refuses to consent or who cannot be located. If paternity has not been established, have the child's birth certificate available, showing that there is only one parent. If the child has a passport issued in the child's own name, then consents are not necessary. read more

In the past a mexican would lose his rights as an heir if he took a foreign citizenship. If he had or ended up with property in Mexico, he had to dispose of it within 60 months, or forsake it in favor of the government. The U.S. does not encourage dual citizenship, but are not very interested in this matter, as long as you do not break any U.S. laws. At the present time, mexicans can take a foreign citizenship without losing out on the family property. read more

Posted by Ernie I hate to keep sounding negative, but I just closed my Mexican bank account after 3 years of frustration. The interest rate is not that great right now. Besides if the peso devalue... read more

Posted by Bruce Cobb on November 07, 1996 Hi, My name is Bruce and I live in NE Washington State in a solar powered house. I work for the US forest Service at a Job Corps Center for youth 16 to 24... read more

In recent decades, immigration to the United States has reached historic proportions. Many observers liken this large and sust... read more

INDEX Labor Law The Work Relationship Employee Privileges Benefits Safety Work Schedules Salary Termination Union Strikes Mexi... read more

How safe is tourist travel in Mexico? This question rates among the most controversial on any Internet forum about Mexico. Cri... read more

The two cultures - Mexican and U.S. - come together in a thoughtful way in this interesting novel, which is set in both countr... read more

This was intended to be a straightforward article on driving to Nogales from Guadalajara and back, with information on tolls, ... read more

So you are an American in Mexico, married to a Mexican citizen and want to move to the U.S.; maybe to work, visit family, go t... read more

Traveling to Mexico   Planning a trip to Mexico? Coming to see if this is where you may want to retire? Actually moving to Me... read more

We talked about this subject a few months ago, but recently we have worked with three cases of people being ripped off for the... read more

In August, we covered the basic things you need to watch for and or take care of for first time visitors into Mexico - simple ... read more

Because of the type of domestic help we hire, most of us do this "under the table", really not adhering to Mexican Law. We the... read more

The labor laws for the Republic of Mexico vary for each type of employee, and each type of employer. Unfortunately, very few o... read more

Knowing the law and your rights in Mexico is the most important step in protecting yourself in Mexico. This can be anything fr... read more

There are many reasons our foreign community is growing. Everyone wants a better life, whether it be the climate, the people, ... read more

In our effort to keep the readers of this publication informed of their rights, and the law in general, we sometimes ruffle so... read more

We have written on this subject twice in the past 14 months, but it continues to be a growing problem. In the past two months ... read more

Know the Law in Mexico is written monthly to help the foreign community with issues we see affecting peoples daily lives. The ... read more

All you need to know to get ready and to drive in Mexico. Including personal experiences, routes and suggestions.... read more

Notre Mission La Chambre a éte fondé en 1995 par des Mexicains étudiant au Canada. A ce jour, nous avons plus de 100 membre... read more

Permission from the Secretary of Foreign Relations is required for the formation of 'Fideicomisos' or real estate bank trusts ... read more

New foreign investment regulations establish conditions under which --with strict adherence to the law-- foreign investors may... read more

All too many Mexican hospitals have complained that they have treated foreigners who later skipped on paying their bills. If y... read more

Posted by Jessica Waters on Marzo 24, 2000 As a US citizen, on an FMT or FM3 visa, will I need to get a Mexican driver's licen... read more

Mexico Connect Forum Discussion Threads Posted by LittleCrow on May 29, 1997: What are the laws regarding taking a pet dog int... read more

Posted by Steve L. on Marzo 15, 2000 After driving down from Memphis, I broke my foot in Puerto Vallarta in December...the doc... read more

Yes, you can bring your cats; no they are not quarantined. You can even bring the cat in the plane cabin, with a soft airline ... read more