Property Dispute Lawyers in Colombia
Protect your Colombian property with English-speaking lawyers, even when you're living overseas.
Buying property in Colombia is a big investment, and when something goes wrong, the stakes are high. A developer may not deliver, someone may sell your property with forged documents, or a co-owner may refuse to cooperate. LCG-Colombia represents foreign property owners and investors in real estate disputes across Colombia. Many of our clients live overseas, and we can protect your property and pursue your claim without you needing to travel.
Property Disputes We Handle
Disputes With Developers and Builders
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Off-plan and new-build purchases are popular with foreign buyers, and they're also where many disputes start. Common problems include projects that are years late or never delivered, apartments that don't match what was sold, poor finishes, and developers who won't return deposits.
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Colombian law protects buyers of new homes. Under Law 1796 of 2016, builders are responsible for structural damage for ten years after delivery. Many off-plan payments are also held by a trust company (fiduciaria) until the project meets set conditions. That can make it possible to recover your money if the project fails. We pursue developers, builders and trust companies through negotiation, consumer protection claims and court action.
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Property Fraud and Stolen Titles
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Property fraud in Colombia often targets foreign owners who are out of the country. Fraudsters use forged powers of attorney, impersonate the owner at a notary, or sell the same property to more than one buyer. Some foreigners are also cheated by fake sellers who take a deposit for a property they don't own.
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If your property has been transferred without your consent, speed matters. We act on two fronts at once. We file a criminal complaint against those responsible, and we bring a civil claim to cancel the fraudulent transfer and restore the title to your name. If you're still in the buying stage, see our guide to Avoiding Real Estate Fraud in Colombia. Before buying, a Property Title Search in Colombia is the best protection.
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Property Bought in Someone Else's Name
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Some foreigners buy property in a Colombian partner's or friend's name, often on bad advice, and later find that person claiming it as their own. Foreigners can legally [Link: own property in Colombia in their own name], so there's no legal reason to do this, but it still happens. If you can show that you paid for the property and were always meant to be the real owner, you may be able to recover it through a court action called an acción de simulación. Bank transfers, messages and witnesses are key evidence. If the property is tied up in a divorce or separation, see our family law services.
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Co-Ownership Disputes
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When you own a property with a former partner, family member or business associate and you can't agree on what to do with it, you're not stuck. Under Colombian law, any co-owner can ask a court to divide the property or order its sale, with the proceeds shared between the owners.
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Squatters, Occupiers and Adverse Possession
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Properties left empty while the owner lives abroad can attract squatters or people who move in and refuse to leave. We bring claims to recover possession of your property.
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This needs attention early. Under Colombian law, someone who openly occupies a property as if they were the owner can eventually claim ownership through adverse possession. For a squatter with no title document, the period is generally 10 years, and it can be shorter for someone holding the property in good faith under a defective title. A tenant or caretaker doesn't normally qualify, but problems arise when that person starts acting as the owner.
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Tenant Evictions
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If a tenant stops paying rent or breaks the lease, we can bring an eviction claim, known as a proceso de restitución de inmueble arrendado. When the eviction is for unpaid rent, the tenant generally can't defend the case in court unless they pay the rent owed, which prevents them from delaying the process.
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Boundary, Neighbor and Building Disputes
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We also handle boundary disputes, conflicts with neighbors over construction or damage, and disputes with building administrations and residential complexes (propiedad horizontal).
Protecting Your Property Quickly
In many property cases, the first step is to stop the problem from getting worse. When we file a claim, we can ask the court to register it on the property's title record. This warns any future buyer or lender about the dispute and makes the property much harder to sell or mortgage while the case is ongoing.
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We also recommend all foreign owners sign up for the Alertas Tempranas service from the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro. It notifies you of any activity on your property's registration record, so you can act immediately if someone tries to transfer it.
Resolving Property Disputes From Abroad
You don't need to be in Colombia to protect your property here. With a power of attorney signed in your home country, our lawyers can file claims, attend hearings and deal with registries, notaries and developers on your behalf. Find out more about working with our litigation lawyers from abroad.
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For how the court process works, see our guide to Filing a Lawsuit in Colombia. For fees and timelines, see the Cost of a Lawsuit in Colombia guide. If you sold a property and the buyer hasn't paid the balance, see our Debt Collection Lawyers in Colombia page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Someone sold my property using forged documents. What can I do?
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Act immediately. We can file a criminal complaint, ask the court to register the dispute on the title to stop any further sales, and bring a civil claim to cancel the fraudulent transfer and return the property to your name.
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My off-plan apartment is years late. Can I get my money back?
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Often, yes. Depending on your contract and how your payments were made, you may be able to cancel the purchase and recover your payments, claim compensation for the delay, or force the developer to deliver. If your money was paid into a trust company, that can help with recovery.
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I bought property in my partner's name. Can I get it back?
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Possibly. If you can prove you paid for the property and were meant to be the real owner, a court can recognize your ownership. The strength of your case depends on your evidence, so contact us early.
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Can someone take my property by living in it?
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Yes, over time, if they occupy it openly as if they were the owner. That's why it's important to act as soon as you find out someone has moved into your property without permission.
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Can I force the sale of a property I co-own?
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Yes. Any co-owner can ask a court to divide the property or order its sale, even if the other owners disagree, unless you all signed a valid agreement not to divide it.
Meet Isabel
Partner, LCG-Colombia
With more than eight years of legal experience, Isabel represents foreign owners in property disputes across Colombia, from squatters and illegal occupants to title conflicts, boundary disputes, and properties sold or transferred without the owner's consent. She brings recovery and possession actions through the Colombian courts, and because she works through a power of attorney, owners abroad can protect their property without having to travel to Colombia.