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

Too many people put off doing their will and succession plans. Here is another reminder to do so, but more importantly, some tips to save money and make you more secure if you live in Costa Rica. A last will and testament means making life easier for the left behind. This priceless document can also make it much harder for the vultures that cloud over an expats death in this country to steal assets from their rightful heirs.

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

The inequities in Costa Rica's family laws are in large part the fault of men. This is especially true in cases of domestic violence where men now have little or no rights. Women are now in control in this country, and they know it. Some find expeditious ways of making their male companions suffer.

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

The transparency phantom stalking clients back in 2005 was not as obvious as he is today. Now, Costa Rica is on its knees in front of the world, pleading for forgiveness for its tax haven practices and wanting to change. The country seeks to send a strong signal to the world it has done so.

This has given the specter new, ominous powers, and he wants everyone to succumb and disclose their secret nest eggs. Many expats are scared to death their secret monies and investments in Costa Rica will be found and they will be put away in that nasty place the phantom puts tax cheaters.

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

Costa Rica is labeled a paradise by many sources on the Internet: by visitors who describe their great trips in online blogs, by travel websites trying to entice tourists to visit and websites offering general information about Costa Rica's nature, history, culture, and the like.

Too many — especially young people — take the bait and move to Costa Rica thinking they're going to earn big bucks teaching or by working in call centers. Only they get trapped earning very little and what they do receive is easily consumed by living expenses.

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

Many expats who have built families with a Costa Rican want to get their natural or adopted offspring a U.S passport. Some believe that since they are U.S. citizens, the right to pass on U.S. citizenship is automatic. It is not. However, it does not need to be a daunting task either.

Whether expats are applying for their biological or stepchildren, the procedure seems to be less painstaking than getting their spouse U.S. citizenship.

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

Most people have heard the Costa Rican dream story. A tourist comes for vacation, falls in love with Costa Rica and/or a Costa Rican, goes back home and sells everything or ships it down here to become an expat. This usually applies more to men than to women. In many cases older men find younger Costa Rican women, some with children from former relationships.

In many cases the Costa Rican counterpart, whether it be a wife or a husband, does not want to live here but wants to live in the United States and, most importantly, wants to be a U. S. citizen. Some even believe it to something of a prize they need to win to be happy and constantly pressure the expat to repatriate — go back to the United States to live — so they can get their citizenship.

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

A few years ago, data reporting was new to Costa Rica. The major players in the market were Datum.net, Cero Riesgo S.A., Protectora de Crédito Comercial S.A. and Trans Union Costa Rica. Today, the same companies are still in the market. What is interesting is the increasing role they play in providing credit, localization and employment reporting to companies, lawyers and financial institutions.

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

The judge won. He said his decisions were not open to question. The Sala IV (Supreme Court) of Costa Rica agreed. A judge can decide anything they deem appropriate in a given case, and it is not up for discussion. The Office of Judicial Inspections have been ordered not to question the judges’ final word either — even in cases where there may be obvious bribery, curruption or fraud.