How we can help
Litigation demands preparation, strategic thinking, and lawyers who are willing to fight. Whether you are a plaintiff pursuing a claim or a defendant protecting your rights, the quality of your legal representation determines the outcome.
Vivas & Nobles appears before courts and quasi-judicial bodies across the Philippines, handling civil, criminal, labor, and administrative cases with aggressive and principled advocacy at every stage of the proceedings.
Civil Litigation
We handle civil disputes involving contracts, property, damages, collections, and other civil law matters, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Criminal Litigation
We represent accused individuals and private complainants in criminal proceedings, providing aggressive and strategic legal representation at every stage.
Administrative Cases
We represent clients in administrative proceedings before government agencies, boards, and commissions — whether as respondents or complainants.
Labor Disputes
We represent employees and employers in labor disputes before the NLRC, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court — from illegal dismissal to unfair labor practice claims.
Before you sue: barangay and demand
Many disputes cannot go straight to court. Where the parties live in the same city or municipality, the Katarungang Pambarangay requires conciliation at the barangay first, and a case filed without the required certification to file action is dismissed. A clear demand letter often resolves the matter or, failing that, sets up the case.
Small claims, and how long a case takes
For pure money claims up to one million pesos, the small claims procedure is faster and lawyers are not allowed to appear, keeping cost down. Ordinary civil cases take longer and are governed by strict deadlines — most notably a fifteen-day period to appeal a decision. Because the right to sue itself expires, timing is the first thing to check.
Is your claim still on time?
Our prescription calculator estimates the deadline to bring an action, and how to file a civil case explains the sequence.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to the barangay before filing a case?
For many disputes between people residing in the same city or municipality, yes. The Katarungang Pambarangay law requires conciliation before the barangay first, and the case will be dismissed if filed in court without the certification to file action. Some cases, such as those needing urgent relief, are exempt.
What is small claims court and what is the limit?
Small claims is a simplified procedure for recovering a sum of money, currently up to one million pesos, without a lawyer appearing. There are no formal trials or lengthy pleadings, and the decision is rendered quickly and is final.
How long does a civil case take?
It varies widely with the court's docket and the complexity of the case, from under a year for simple matters to several years for contested ones. The Rules now aim to shorten trials, but appeals can extend the timeline considerably.
What is the deadline to file a lawsuit?
It depends on the claim. An action on a written contract prescribes in ten years, on an oral contract in six, and for injury to rights or quasi-delict in four. Once the prescriptive period lapses, the claim can be dismissed no matter how strong it is.
How long do I have to appeal a decision?
Generally fifteen days from receipt of the decision or final order to file the appeal or a motion for reconsideration. The period is strict; missing it makes the decision final and executory, so the deadline must be recorded the moment a decision arrives.