Founded in 1979 by Glenn D. Godfrey, a former Attorney General, Minister of Tourism and Environment, and Member of the Belize National Assembly, Mr. Godfrey is a highly sought-after attorney in Belize.
Mr. Godfrey’s law firm has more than forty years of experience in the Belize legal, political and international business community and has represented some of the largest domestic and global corporations doing business in Belize.
The law firm’s team of attorneys represent both individuals and companies around the world. As a globally oriented law firm, our team of attorneys are experienced specialists in asset protection, corporate law, offshore services, and related business legal matters.
Through our membership in the State Capital Global Law Firm Group, a worldwide network of independent law firms and the International Business Law Consortium, our team of attorneys bring a global perspective, working effectively with multi-jurisdictional transactions across time zones, and highly personalized service to our client transactions.
Our global and business focused law firm has been a pioneer in bank formations, telecommunications, ecommerce and international financial services in Belize and has distinguished ourselves by continuing to offer domestic and international clients the benefit of our broad experience in corporate finance, corporate restructuring, company formations and immigration, corporate liquidations, trust formation and management, plus long-term, captive and general insurance.
With a support staff of over 20 paralegals, business associates, and assistants, our law firm also provides professional advice and assistance in areas such as business management, finance, accounting, domestic and international banking, ecommerce, mortgage financing, human resources management, real estate and marketing.
The firm provides comprehensive legal services in all matters concerning real estate law. Our team of attorneys and support staff have amassed decades of experience and expertise in real estate transactions including, but not limited to, Leasing, Mortgaging, Purchasing, and Selling of Property. This encompasses land for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. The firm also provides legal counsel and advice on obtaining subdivision approval, strata (condominium) titles and all other matters relating to land development and housing schemes.
As the leading law firm in Belize, Glenn. D. Godfrey & Co. LLP, is well placed to help you with wills, probate and succession matters.
Probate in Belize is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate, settling all claims made against the estate, and distributing the property of the deceased person’s.
The assets belonging to the deceased at their time of death is subject to probate. Exceptions may apply to any assets placed in a form that allows it to bypass the process of probate, for example a trust or foundation.
As the executor of an estate containing assets in Belize, such as a vacation home or a trust, it is prudent to seek the assistance of a Belize probate lawyer.
If a person dies with a will, these are referred to as testamentary probate proceedings. If a person dies without a will, they are said to died intestate. Our team of experienced Belize probate attorneys regularly handle matters of Succession in the Supreme Court of Belize for both those that have died Intestate and those who have left Wills.
The Wills Act, Chapter 203 of the Laws of Belize states for a will to be valid, it should be in writing and signed by the Testator plus two witnesses. We handle the preparation of wills and trust documents, the Administration of Estates and provide guidance on matters of estate planning.
Upon the Testator’s death, a Grant of Probate should be applied for with the Probate Registry. At the time of applying for the Grant of Probate, the following items should be annexed – an affidavit authenticating the petition; an affidavit by the attesting witness to the will; an oath; an appraisal of the estate’s value; a bond; inventory of the estate’s assets; and a statutory declaration. After receiving a Grant of Probate, a notice to creditors will be printed in the government gazette and a local newspaper for two consecutive publications. The executor is then able to proceed with administering the estate in accordance with the will. Also, if the executor is not resident in Belize, we will help with nominating somebody to file for the Grant on their behalf.
Should the deceased die without creating a Will (i.e. died intestate), the Administration of Estates Act lays out the process of distributing the estate. In such circumstances, the rights of the surviving spouse and children are given first priority, then parents, then siblings, with whole blood preceding before half-blood.
For intestate proceedings, the administrator may submit a request to the court to grant them administration powers of the estate of the deceased by providing letters of administration including an administration petition, an affidavit authenticating said petition, an oath, a valuation of the estate’s assets, a bond supported by an affidavit, inventory of assets and a statutory declaration. Furthermore, notice must be given in the government gazette for three successive issues reflecting. Within two weeks of the last published notification, grant of administration is awarded, provided it is not contested by a third-party, and creditors are notified in the government gazette and in one newspaper for two consecutive editions. The administrator then has the green-light to dispense the estate’s assets in accordance with the succession laws of Belize.
There are no estate taxes in Belize. As such, beneficiaries are not liable to pay any taxes on the properties (assets) they receive from the deceased’s estate.
The probate process in Belize takes six to twelve months on average.
The firm offers advice on a wide range of issues affecting corporate and industrial clients, many of which are foreign corporations and transnationals doing business in Belize. Our work includes preincorporation matters, company formation, corporate finance, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, as well as complex matters that may arise during the life of a corporation, such as shareholders’ actions, enforcement of shareholders’ agreements, etc. The close relationship which we usually develop and maintain with our clients also enables us to effectively advise them on legal issues that may affect overall company strategy and the conduct of business activities.
Besides our traditional corporate work, our offshore practice has sustained tremendous growth in the last decade. Our main services in this area are comprised of company formation and management, opening and managing bank accounts, commercial representation of companies and trustee services.
Belize has recently enacted excellent laws for the protection of intellectual property including copyright trademarks, patents, layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits, industrial designs, and new plant varieties. Belize is also a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization and is a signatory to numerous international intellectual property conventions.
The attorneys of Glenn D. Godfrey & Company Co LLP offers complete and thorough counsel and assistance in the registration (if available) and protection of all types of intellectual properties in Belize. In addition, the firm provides representation associated with the protection of intellectual property rights in administrative or judicial proceedings.
Individual corporations in High-Tax jurisdictions may realize significant tax advantages by selling their Ownership of Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Licenses of Franchises to an offshore company usually in a single-payment purchase.
Our law firm provides legal assistance on immigration matters, including processing of resident visa and work permits for foreign individuals wishing to work in Belize. The same service is provided to executives and technical employees of companies that require foreign personnel due to the nature of their commercial activities.
Glenn D. Godfrey & Company LLP also offers legal counsel for filing the administrative documents that are necessary, according to Belize Law, to obtain letters of naturalization – a first step in becoming a Belizean citizen.
In general we represent our clients in all types of procedures related to transactions and applications required to obtain residence status and work permits before the department of immigration and naturalization. We also provide legal counsel and advice on obtaining Qualified Retired Person (QRP) status under the Qualified Retired Person Incentives Program administered by the Belize Tourist Board.
