Invest in Costa Rica with one legal strategy.
Independent bilingual counsel for foreign investors buying property, acquiring or forming a company, and setting up operations in Costa Rica. Due diligence connects the real estate, corporate structure, permits, contracts and liabilities before you commit capital.
30+ years in Costa Rica
Bilingual · English / Spanish
Former Legal Director · RECOPE (Costa Rica's state-owned fuel company)
The property and the business cannot be reviewed in isolation.
A parcel can have clean title and still be unusable for the planned operation. A company can own a valuable asset and also carry employment, tax or contractual liabilities. Sound counsel is not merely signing a deed. It is understanding what you are buying, how you will own it and what must be true for it to operate after closing.
From opportunity to operating asset.
Real estate due diligence
01Title, liens, survey and cadastral consistency, zoning, water availability, permits, maritime-zone issues and other facts that affect use or value.
Business acquisition or formation
02Review of the target company or formation of an S.A. or S.R.L., with governance, powers, beneficial-owner duties and a structure suited to the investment.
Contracts, escrow and closing
03Option or purchase agreement, regulated third-party escrow coordination, deed, taxes, fees and registration, with a clear English-language record of the process.
Permits and hidden liabilities
04Review of licenses, employees, key contracts, litigation, tax posture and any condition that may affect the business after closing.
For investors deploying capital—not merely signing a deed.
The engagement follows the complete economic decision and the risks the investor needs to control.
International property buyers
Individuals and families buying a residence, second home, rental property or land.
Foreign founders
Entrepreneurs setting up a Costa Rican company, contracts, permits and a compliant operating base.
Business buyers
Investors acquiring shares, assets, hotels, developments or other existing operations.
Remote investors
Clients who need a transaction executed and supervised from the United States, Europe or elsewhere.
An informed decision before the money moves.
- 01
Strategic consultation to understand the asset, the business, the investment objective and the transaction timeline.
- 02
Written scope, fee, required documents and the questions that must be resolved before proceeding.
- 03
Due diligence and a plain-English findings report with a recommendation: proceed, renegotiate, cure or walk away.
- 04
Closing, registration and post-closing guidance so the structure can operate and remain compliant.
Can foreigners buy property in Costa Rica?
Yes. Foreigners can generally own titled property in Costa Rica with the same rights as Costa Rican citizens. Due diligence should confirm title, liens, survey and cadastral consistency, land use, water availability and whether coastal land is titled property or a maritime-zone concession.
Should I buy in my personal name or through a corporation?
It depends on use, financing, succession planning and whether the property supports a business. A corporation can be useful, but it also carries accounting, tax and beneficial-owner reporting duties. The structure should be chosen before closing, not added as an afterthought.
Can you review the purchase of an existing Costa Rican business?
Yes. Business due diligence can cover the company, contracts, permits, assets, debt, employees, taxes, litigation and the relationship between the real estate and the operating business. A share purchase may transfer historical liabilities that an asset purchase does not.
Can the transaction be completed while I remain abroad?
Many steps can be handled through a properly drafted, apostilled special power of attorney. The authority is limited in writing, and the process can be documented and reported in English from diligence through registration.
Do you also represent the seller or real estate broker?
Not in the same transaction. Independent advice cannot depend on the deal closing. The investor is the client, and the recommendation may be to renegotiate or walk away when the risk is not acceptable.
Before you buy property or a business, review the whole investment.
Tell me what you are considering and where you are in the process. The first session defines the legal path, documents and risks worth investigating.
Discuss my investment