Costa Rica Expertise LLC

Lack of knowledge leads to fears

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

Expats in Costa Rica who rent to others need to know the law and the important exceptions. Property owners also need to know that the law is not the same for all kinds of property. Many expats prefer not to rent to Costa Ricans because they fear the local rental law due to their lack of knowledge or language ability.

On the coast, expats rent very short term — daily, weekly, and occasionally monthly — to vacationers coming to the country. Usually, they collect their rental fees in their home country or online over the Internet. Some do not declare the money they collect here nor elsewhere. This scenario is a nice source of income for many and for those who do not report the income, tax-free money — at least tax-free until they are caught.

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

This is how to trap an expat into marriage, a big payoff or a lifetime of alimony payments. It is not just a woman’s guide, but as public service to men and even expat women to save them from themselves in Costa Rica.

Many men come here to play around with women. Many of them are married in their home country, and they come here because playful women are plentiful and they seriously believe their wives will not catch them. Others are here because no other women will have them. A smaller number of women are in the same categories, but the sex most affected is male.

In Costa Rica, the one-sided laws favoring women get men into trouble and they usually do not even know they are in trouble until it is way too late. “Some women swindle with domestic violence law” and “Judges are a girl's best friend when extortion's afoot,” cover some of the ramifications of living with a woman in Costa Rica.

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Bad guys exploit statute of limitations

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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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The ultimate mediation and arbitration
. . . Paul mediates while Peter selects destination

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

Q. What is the difference between a good priest and Peter at the Pearly Gates?

A. One is a mediator and the other is an arbitrator.

Most people do not know they can pick their own arbitrator in Costa Rica if they know what they are doing.

A mediator is a person who can assist two or more persons to come to an agreement but has no decision power one way or the other if they do not.

An arbitrator moderates disputes but in the end can make a decision as to who wins and who loses.

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Salvaged vehicles seem to be common in lots

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

Readers requested this article. Some helped write it by sending in accounts of their own experiences trying to buy a used car in Costa Rica. Most recount the endeavor as a terror. One couple has almost given up and prefer the bus to dealing with used car salespeople. They may import their old vehicle from the States, paying more in the process, because they know the car and do not want any more surprises.

The biggest problem is the twisted tongues of some of the sellers. Little that some state about a used car comes close to the truth, especially the mileage.

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