Frequently asked questions

Call the office on +1 876 677 1345, message us on WhatsApp, email [email protected] or use the enquiry form. We will arrange a time to meet in person, by phone or by video call.

Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. We are closed on weekends and public holidays. You can send an enquiry or WhatsApp message at any time and we will reply on the next business day.

The firm is led by Andrew A. Dixon (B.A., LL.B., L.E.C.) and Danielle Robb-Hilton (LL.B., L.E.C.).

Bring your identification and any documents connected to your matter, such as titles, agreements, letters, court papers, death certificates or wills. If you are unsure, bring everything and we will sort through it with you.

Depending on the matter, fees may be fixed, based on a percentage (for example on some property transactions) or charged by time. We confirm the basis and estimate in writing before starting.

We act on real estate and conveyancing, probate, wills and estates, family law, civil litigation, personal injury, traffic offences, company formation and business law, employment law and Jamaican citizenship and passports. If your matter is not listed, contact us and we will tell you whether we can help.

Yes. Communications with your attorney for the purpose of legal advice are confidential and protected by legal professional privilege.

A straightforward sale is often completed in roughly 90 days from signing the agreement, but timing depends on mortgage approval, the stamping of documents and the registration of the transfer. We give you a realistic timeline at the start and keep you updated.

In some simple transactions one attorney may act for both sides with their informed consent, but where interests conflict each party should have their own attorney. We will tell you if we think you need separate representation.

Transfer tax is usually the seller's cost, while stamp duty and registration fees are commonly shared or allocated by the agreement for sale. The rates are set by the Government of Jamaica and can change, so we confirm current figures for your transaction in writing.

Yes. Non-residents can buy property in Jamaica. We can handle the whole transaction for you remotely, including arranging how documents are signed and witnessed abroad. See legal help for clients overseas.

It varies with the size of the estate, whether there is a will and how quickly documents can be gathered. Many applications take a year or more from filing to grant. Having complete documents from the start is the best way to avoid delay, and we tell you exactly what is needed.

Their estate is distributed according to the Intestates' Estates and Property Charges Act, which sets out which relatives inherit and in what shares. A family member must apply to the Supreme Court for letters of administration before the estate can be dealt with.

Property in Jamaica is dealt with under Jamaican law, so a Jamaican grant is usually required even if the person lived and died overseas. We can advise whether a grant issued abroad can be relied on and handle the Jamaican application for you without you travelling.

It is not compulsory, but homemade wills are often found to be invalid or unclear, which leads to delay and disputes. A will prepared by an attorney is far more likely to work as you intend.

You must have lived separately and apart for at least twelve months before filing the petition. The period of separation is calculated up to the date the petition is filed.

Often, yes, depending on your connection to Jamaica. We can advise on whether the Jamaican court has jurisdiction and handle the proceedings without you needing to attend every hearing in person.

Yes. Under the Property (Rights of Spouses) Act, a man and a woman who have lived together as spouses for at least five years, while both single, can apply for a division of property in the same way as married spouses. Strict time limits apply after the relationship ends.

Smaller claims are usually heard in the Parish Court for the parish concerned, such as the St. James Parish Court in Montego Bay. Larger or more complex claims go to the Supreme Court. We advise on the right forum for your matter.

Contact an attorney straight away. Court documents come with strict deadlines, and if you do not respond in time the other side may obtain judgment against you without a hearing.

It depends on the severity of your injuries, your recovery, your financial losses and how Jamaican courts have valued similar injuries. We can give you an estimate once we have your medical reports.

Many claims are settled with the insurer without a trial. If the offer is too low, we can file a claim in court, and even then many cases settle before a final hearing.