Law firm of Spencer Global ChileThe Law Firm of Spencer Global is composed of Chilean Attorneys and professionals dedicated to providing legal and investment services exclusively to international clients in Chile.

We represent a diverse group of clients from around the Globe. Our clients include everyone from Fortune 500 companies to families immigrating to Chile, to even foreign attorneys and their clients requiring assistance in the jurisdiction of Chile.

Our law office provides legal services in English and Spanish; in all parts of Chile, from the Capital of Santiago to small towns in Southern Chile. 









CHILE LAW ARTICLES

Spencer Global would like to announce the completion of our expansion with our recent acquisition of a partnership in a Santiago Law firm. This new law firm will be operating as Veloso, Flores, and Valenzuela. Our senior Chilean attorney and expert in international law, Zandra Valenzuela will be a managing named partner of Veloso, Flores, and Valenzuela, allowing us to provide the specialized consulting services of Spencer Global outside of the legal field, while also providing the best legal council available in Chile to all of our clients.

The type of visa you need in Chile can sometimes be confusing. We will here list the most common types of visa application types and also explain diffrent immigration status that foreigners might have in Chile. We will also describe the type of person or circumstances in which an individual should apply for a particular visa or immigration status in Chile.

The differences between "temporary residency" (Residencia Temporaria) and "permanent residency" (Permanencia Definitiva) in Chile is often confused. Most visas provided in Chile allow for a route to full permanent residency. Regardless of the visa type application you use to become a permanent resident of Chile, you must complete “temporary residency”.

The retirement and periodic income visa in Chile is for most foreigners the most direct and commonly granted visa to live and work in Chile. You do not need to be retired to obtain this visa. You do need to prove sufficient money and resources to support yourself and your family. This visa allows you to work, start a business, invest in Chile, or simply do nothing. Of all the different types of visas available in Chile, the retirement and periodic income visa comes with the least number of conditions attached to it, and most foreigners will qualify for this visa in Chile.

When buying real estate in Chile, all property in Chile must go three general phases of purchase to be a complete and valid property transfer. First phase is negotiation and title search. Followed by contract signing or real estate closing phase. Finally, title registration and payment. We will describe briefly what must occur in each of these phases of a real estate purchase, and how a particular property purchase might deviate from these broad categories.

International probate and inheritance considerations in Chile for family of citizens, foreigners, and residents of Chile. How to decide if it is worth the time and expense to probate an inheritance in Chile in terms of legal fees, inheritance tax, real estate tax, and court costs.

Recognition of a Foreign Divorce in Chile

Even though you were divorced outside of Chile, your foreign divorce will not be automatically recognized in Chile. This means for all purposes your former spouse, first spouse if you have been remarried more than once, is still your spouse for all legal and practical purposes in Chile until your foreign divorce is recognized or you obtain a divorce in Chile. This includes rights to your estate, and any new marriage will be viewed as illegitimate or illegal until the first divorce is formally accepted under Chilean law. We take a look at here the reasons to obtain a new divorce in Chile vs. recognition of a foreign divorce. 

A power of attorney can be executed for just about anything in Chile. Powers of attorney should be limited in scope to particular tasks or goals, and they MUST be drafted by a qualified attorney. A poorly drafted power of attorney, after getting all the proper authorizations outside the country, can ultimately be rejected or accepted by each notary, government office, or private party in Chile, if not drafted correctly. The amount of effort and expense you need to validate a power of attorney inside of Chile, from outside Chile, makes it essential that the Power of Attorney be well drafted from the start.