INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS IN CURACAO AND ST. MAARTEN

Raising money without a license is prohibited The National Ordinance on the Supervision of Investment Institutions and Administrators 2002 (Landsverordening toezicht beleggingsinstellingen en administrateurs, a.k.a. “NOSIIA”) of both Curacao and St. Maarten prohibits raising, or obtaining, pecuniary means or other property for the purpose of participating in an investment institution that has not been granted a… Continue reading INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS IN CURACAO AND ST. MAARTEN

TRUST SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CURACAO

TSPs are supervised by the Central Bank Many international group structures include one or more Curacao legal entities or partnerships. The main reasons for this are the internationally competitive conditions for business development in the area of corporate law and the tax system in Curacao, as well as the well-developed professional financial services industry. Trust… Continue reading TRUST SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CURACAO

THE THREE STAGES OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

General observations regarding adversarial proceedings All adversarial proceedings in the Dutch Caribbean shall be initiated by means of a petition to the Court of First Instance of the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba. Claims will be denied or rejected (afgewezen) by the Court if ruled that they are unfounded. If a claim is denied for reasons… Continue reading THE THREE STAGES OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

ORDINARY ADVERSARIAL VERSUS SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

The court only considers the key issues According to Article 110 and 111 of the Netherlands Antilles Code of Civil Proceedings (NACCP), all adversarial proceedings shall be initiated by means of a petition to the Court of First Instance. Proceedings so initiated are ordinary proceedings, unless the petitioner expressly opts for preliminary relief proceedings (kort… Continue reading ORDINARY ADVERSARIAL VERSUS SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

OBITER DICTUM OR NOT?

Litigating twice on the same matter is not allowed The Netherlands Antilles Code of Civil Procedure prevents parties from litigating twice on the same legal issue. The principle that a final judgment of a competent court is conclusive upon the parties in any subsequent litigation involving the same cause of action is known as ‘res… Continue reading OBITER DICTUM OR NOT?

DUTCH CARIBBEAN LITIGATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FACTS

Failing to contest may make a fact true Facts play an important role in civil litigation. Facts are established by the Court in First Instance of the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba and by the Joint Court of Appeal of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, not by the Supreme Court. A review by the Supreme Court… Continue reading DUTCH CARIBBEAN LITIGATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FACTS

LEGAL REBELS ARE REMAKING THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Dozens of lawyers are remaking their corners of the profession According to the American Bar Association (ABA), “the legal profession is not just struggling through a recession but undergoing a structural break with the past. There is a growing consensus that the profession that emerges from this downturn will be different in fundamental ways from… Continue reading LEGAL REBELS ARE REMAKING THE LEGAL PROFESSION

LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

Defendant has to show that the claim is invalid Article 705, Paragraph 2 of the Netherlands Antilles Code of Civil Procedure states that the lifting of an attachment may be ordered if it appears summarily that the claim is invalid. According to existing case law of the Dutch Supreme Court (see for instance Supreme Court… Continue reading LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)

Freezing assets is rather easy Under Netherlands Antilles law any party with a prima facie claim may file a petition for a court order granting an attachment, which petitions are generally granted, solely based on the allegations in the petition. It is not required, under Netherlands Antilles law, that the litigant needs to demonstrate that,… Continue reading LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (IV)

Only condemnatory judgments are allowed As far as the form and the content of a decision in summary proceedings is concerned, the judge has great latitude in reaching a decision. A guiding principle for the judge will always be a policy of not going beyond what might be necessary or well-balanced as far as the… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (IV)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (III)

Judge will balance interests In general the court will take into account the detriment which the plaintiff in summary proceedings will suffer if he has to wait too long for a judgment in a procedure on the merits. In summary proceedings the judge needs to balance the interests of the plaintiff and the defendant. In… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (III)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

Urgency is a requirement Provisional measures may always be given in summary proceedings in civil cases if the claim meets the following three conditions: (i) there is an urgent interest at stake; (ii) the interests of both parties needs to be balanced; and (iii) the balancing of interests justifies a decision in summary proceedings. The… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)