Atty. Shannah Marie O. Montales - Lawyer/Notary Public

26/02/2026

📢 OFFICE NOTICE: Please be informed that Atty. Shannah Marie O. Montales will be away from the office tomorrow, February 27, 2026 (9:00 AM – 12:00 NN).

She will be fulfilling her duty as the Lawyer of the Day (LODI) at the IBP Albay Office to volunteer her legal services.

Regular office operations will resume at 1:00PM. Thank you!

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⚖️ What is the LODI Program?
The Lawyer of the Day Initiative (LODI) is a flagship project of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). It ensures that a volunteer lawyer is physically present at the IBP Chapter office during designated hours to provide immediate legal assistance, counseling, and notary services to those in need—particularly those who might not otherwise have access to legal representation.

⚖️ FREE LEGAL AID (IBP-LODI)
To qualify for Pro Bono (Free) Legal Services, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Financial Need: No sufficient means for food, shelter, and basic necessities.
2 Income Cap: Family income must not exceed twice the minimum wage.
3. Property Cap: No owned real property with a value exceeding Php 300,000.

Mandatory Requirements:
1. Certificate of Indigency (Barangay/MSWD/DSWD)
2. Certificate of No Property Landholdings (Assessor’s Office)
3. Certificate of Non-Tax Filer (BIR)
4. Affidavit of Indigency (Notarized)

30/01/2026

We are open tomorrow (SATURDAY) from 10AM to 4PM. Thank you.

13/01/2026

22/12/2025

24/11/2025

‼️DUE DILIGENCE FOR LAND BUYERS

Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Lorenzo R. dela Rosa, a member of the Remedial Law Department of the Philippine Judicial Academy, discusses key issues on land titles and the steps buyers should take before acquiring properties in Episode 95: Protecting the Integrity of Land Titles.

What is a reconstituted title, and how is it different from the original title or the owner's duplicate? What remedies are available to buyers defrauded by sellers?

This week's podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, and the website.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NcLjdE0axrvAej7wGMueu?si=8BzkNdj4QIufZoL1glN-Ow

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/episode-95-protecting-the-integrity-of-land-titles/id1852172756?i=1000737742658

YouTube: https://youtu.be/KRcs30UAwwQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1MuvG4RZ8s/

SC website: http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/podcasts/

21/10/2025

Please be advised that our office will be closed for a wellness break from October 24 to November 3, 2025 and will resume normal business hours on November 4, 2025.

We are grateful for your continued trust and we hope to provide you with the highest level of service upon our return.

For urgent matters that cannot wait, feel free to message this page. Thank you.

22/07/2025

Work and classes are suspended tomorrow due to severe rainfall and flooding.

Stay safe, everyone!

03/07/2025

Dear Clients,

Atty. S. Montales Law Office will be CLOSED on JULY 4, 2025 (Friday). Office transactions shall resume on JULY 7, 2025 (Monday).

For urgent concerns, feel free to contact us here via our page Atty. Shannah Marie O. Montales - Lawyer/Notary Public or you may send an e-mail to [email protected].

Thank you.

Send a message to learn more

25/06/2025

Ang pagkakaroon ng isang relasyon ay hindi nagbibigay ng karapatan para sa sapilitang pakikipagtalik.

Iginiit ng na ang pag-amin ng isang biktima na siya ay nasa isang relasyon sa nang-abuso sa kanya ay hindi nagpapahiwatig ng pagpayag sa pakikipagtalik. Dapat malinaw ang katibayan na may pahintulot.

Sa Desisyon na isinulat ni Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, hinatulang guilty ng Second Division ng Korte si Jhopet Hernandez Toralde (Toralde) sa panggagahasa sa isang 14-anyos na babae.

Ginamit ni Toralde ang “sweetheart theory” bilang depensa at sinabing hindi niya pinilit ang biktima na makipagtalik sa kanya dahil sa sila ay nasa isang romantikong relasyon.

Si Toralde ay hinatulan ng Regional Trial Court na guilty sa sekswal na pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng Anti-Child Abuse Law (Republic Act No. 7610). Ang desisyon ng RTC ay pinagtibay ng Court of Appeals.

Bagamat pinagtibay ang hatol na guilty, sinabi ng Korte Suprema na si Toralde ay nagkasala ng panggagahasa sa ilalim ng Revised Penal Code dahil kumpleto ang lahat ng elemento ng krimen, kabilang ang paggamit ng mga pagbabanta at pananakot para sa sapilitang pakikipagtalik.

Tinanggihan ng Korte ang depensa ni Toralde at binigyang diin na ang pagkakaroon ng isang relasyon ay hindi nagbibigay ng karapatan para sa sapilitang pakikipagtalik. Dagdag pa nito, ang depensa ng pagkakaroon ng isang romantikong relasyon ay hindi sapat at kailangang may malinaw na katibayan ng consent o pagsang-ayon.

Si Toralde ay sinentensiyahan ng parusang reclusion perpetua o maximum na 40 taon na pagkakakulong at inutusang bayaran ang biktima ng PHP 225,000 bilang danyos.

Basahin ang buong press release sa https://tinyurl.com/nvpvv9fm.

Basahin ang buong Desisyon sa https://tinyurl.com/6tzma4tx.

Sumunod sa Credit Attribution Policy ng SC PIO: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

14/04/2025

HOLY WEEK 2025 OFFICE SCHEDULE:
APRIL 14-16, 2025 - OPEN
APRIL 17-20, 2025 - CLOSED

As we journey through this Holy Week, let us take time to pray, reflect, and find peace in our faith.

We wish you a meaningful and blessed week.

27/02/2025

Dear Clients,

Atty. S. Montales Law Office will be CLOSED on February 28-March 5, 2025. Office transactions shall resume on MARCH 6, 2025.

For urgent concerns, feel free to contact us here via our page Atty. Shannah Marie O. Montales - Lawyer/Notary Public or you may send an e-mail to [email protected].

Thank you.

Send a message to learn more

31/01/2025

Our office is open on Saturdays BY APPOINTMENT. Slots are still available for tomorrow, February 1, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. Please do not hesitate to send us a message. Thank you.