Costa Rica Expertise LLC

By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The sign of things to come: Banco Cuscatlan now requires citizens or resident aliens of the United States to fill out a W9 form for personal accounts at the firm's banks in Costa Rica.

Why? Because Citigroup bought Grupo Cuscatlan from Corporación UBC Internacional S.A. for $1.51 billion in cash and stock. Grupo Cuscatlan has operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panamá.

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Officials there brush off complaints about delays

By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

In more and more cases, buying property in Costa Rica can hold an innocent property buyer hostage for years, bankrupt them and even kill them with stress and strain.

Only a few years ago, it was rare to read about property fraud in the local press. Nowadays, it is probably one of the most important topics of the news. Sometimes even a legally perfect property can carry hidden problems. Costa Ricans and savvy expats can use these complications to sour even the best and honest real estate transaction.

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By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

What does it mean to be carbon negative or carbon positive? What does it mean to be carbon responsible? The country aims for carbon neutrality by the year 2021. Expats living in Costa Rica can be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Carbon may also be good business for Costa Rica. The country’s carbon real estate business is still in its development stages but it's heating up fast. There are also ways to use the Costa Rican civil code to build carbon responsible communities.

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Bad guys exploit statute of limitations

A.M. Costa Rica graphic
The delay in cases here is simply a crime

By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is experiencing a meltdown in its court system. This is especially true in the criminal courts. Many cases are lapsing and are in mora judicial, judicial neglect.

Calling or writing officials regarding a case is a joke.

An answer to a written pronto despacho, an immediate attention request, last week was horrifying. The prosecutor in charge of an obvious stolen property case stated she is overwhelmed and asked that victims respect her predicament.

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By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Electronic banking in Costa Rica has grown up. It is now easy, fast and efficient.

Transfers from Banco Interfin last week to the national banks, Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica and Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago, worked without a hitch. Transfers from Banco de Costa Rica to the private banks Banco Interfin, Banco San José, Scotia Bank, and Banco Cuscatlan worked just as flawlessly. All banks in Costa Rica are currently interconnected. Transfers can be made in either U. S. dollars or Costa Rican colons.

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