As most people who read my blog know I have authored 16 editions of my perennial bestselling guidebook “The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica,” the one-of-a-kind “Guide to Costa Rican Spanish” and the “Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica.”

The latest project from my publishing company Costa Rica Books is “Christopher Howard’s Official Guide to Costa Rican Law for Gringo Dummies.” I don’t mean to insult anyone by the title. My goal is to provide the answers to some basic legal questions and concerns in simple language that anyone can understand. To ensure the accuracy of the book I have a couple of prominent English-speaking Costa Rican attorneys reviewing the material it covers.

You can see the cover on the homepage of www.liveincostarica.com or www.costaricabooks.com.

By no means should this guide take the place of a good lawyer. My goal is not to give legal advice but to explain how the legal system works here. It is really a compendium of different topics.

Here are some of the subjects it covers.

- Overview of the system
- What is Napoleonic law?
- Who makes the laws?
- Who are the different national and local authorities? (National, provincial, municipal, etc.)
- How do the courts work?
- Who enforces the law? Different branches of police, etc.
- Marriage, divorce, children, custody, alimony, child support, common law marriage, protecting one’s assets
- Work permits
- Immigration and Residency
- How to become a citizen
- Labor law and how to project oneself
- The Maritime Zone
- Property ownership and transfer
- Environmental laws and how they can affect you
- Renter’s rights
- Property and corporate taxes
- Corporations and their many uses
- Traffic laws
- Sex with minors and prostitution
- Buying a car
- Civil Lawsuits and Arbitration
- Disciplinary action against lawyers
- Wills an the cost of dying
- How to find a good lawyer
- Resources
- Common legal and real estate terms
AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

The eBook version of this guide will be out by the spring of 2012 or sooner.

Over the years I helped thousands of North Americans relocated to Costa Rica and change their lives for the better. I have appeared on the NBC Today Show, CNBC World Business news and Fox Business news and in scores of newspapers and publications. As a matter of fact, during the third week of September 2011 I will be a featured speaker (in Spanish) at The Central American Conference for Realtors to be held in Costa Rica. Many dignitaries from all over the region will speak and attend this event.

I have always remained positive about Costa Rica, tend to look at the bright side of things and extolled the virtues of the country.

On my monthly relocation/retirement tours I talk about the good and bad in Costa Rica when I give my clients their initial orientation. I really don’t “sugar coat”” anything but try to emphasize the good aspects of the country which far outweigh the bad. The country must have something to offer since there are more Americans living here proportionately than any other country outside of the United States. They can’ be wrong!

I really feel good about what I do and find it rewarding to give people some hope in these troubled times. They now have a chance to start over, have a lifestyle they could never have in the U.S. and enjoy everything this beautiful country has to offer.

Inevitably I have some detractors. Some of them are jealous competitors while others and gringos who have nothing better to do with their time than to bitch and complain about the country. Sadly, we have a handful of neophyte know-it-all wise-ass North American Baby Boomers who came here after 2000 and who are real pains in the butt. Most don’t speak the language and will never integrate into the local culture so all they have to do to give meaning to their pitiful lives is to complain about everything and everyone. All you have to do is read their comments on the many Costa Rica blogs and on-line publications. The Internet has become their stage where they can enjoy a few minutes of attention they would never or have never received in the real world.

Actually I am thankful to these people because any publicity is good publicity.

Fortunately, the positive feedback and testimonials about my services and businesses FAR outweigh any criticism I may have received over the years. My success says it all. Higher ups in the Costa Rican government as well as the U.S. media constantly contact me for advice and information about the country.

You will be pleased to know that not only Costa Ricans but Baby Boomer retirees or anyone else living in Costa Rica has consumer’s rights.

Nobody buys something thinking that they are going to have to return it. However, at times some items have to be returned for a variety of reasons. Sometimes articles have to be returned because they are damaged or they turn out not to be what you expected or needed.

In Costa Rica, for example, if you buy a blender and the motor doesn’t work you can exchange it for a new one or get your money back no matter if the product was on sale or not. However, if something small like a switch on the blender doesn’t work the merchant is obligated to repair it within 30 days of the purchase. Law number 7472 protects the seller and allows him/her to fix the damaged merchandise.

In those cases when it is a matter of just not liking a product, for instance clothing, the procedure is different. Each store basically has its own policy and procedure. The business is required to post its return policy on a sign in the store or on the receipt so clients are aware of it. In the U.S. and Canada it is much easier to return something simply because you don’t like it. Costa Rica is backward in that respect in that it is more difficult to exchange an item. However, as more and more international chain stores set up business here the return policies are becoming more in tune with those of the States.

It is also very important that retirees and other foreigners living in Costa Rica also know that all merchandise bought on sale or with a discount has a 30 day guarantee in Costa Rica as established by the Oficina de Apoyo al Consuimidor del Ministro Económico or Consumer Support Group. All you need is your receipt. It is illegal for any business to refuse you the right to exchange this type of merchandise. If the merchant doesn’t comply you can call the Oficina de Apoyo al Consumidor at 800-CONSUMO ( 800-258-7474 ) or visit their offices in Barrio Mexico to try and resolve the problem.

Since the urban sprawl extended its tentacles east to Cartago, west to Escazú and Santa Ana and Northwest to Heredia and Alajuela, traffic has has increased greatly creative huge traffic jams. License plate restrictions have really done little to ease the problem. One of the newest solution has been the creation of several urban train routes by The Costa Rican Institute of Railways (INCOFER) and the possibility of a modern tram system to serve the GMA or Greater Metropolitan Area. The former now serves the areas of Heredia, Belén, San Pedro and Pavas. And if everything goes according to planned INCOFER expects to inaugurate train service to Cartago by the end of next year with the help of several municipalities along the route.

Furthermore, if the project is not delayed by bureaucracy or money problems the metropolitan area should have an extensive light-rain system within the next few years. The main problem as always is getting the necessary funds but the government is working actively on it.

So it is hoped that in the not-too-distant future retirees and others who live in the Greater Metropolitan Area will have other options besides traveling by automobile, bus or the present train system thus improving their quality of life by being able to get around more quickly.

For the past week there has been a thread on the Costa Rica Living newsgroup about dishonesty in Costa Rica. Before I delve into the subject be aware that dishonesty exists any place in the world where there are human beings. Let’s start with governments. The Bush administration lied to the U.S. public when they claimed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and used it as a pretext to go to war with Iraq. Part of the blame of the current world economic crisis can be attributed to dishonest individuals on Wall Street. So, dishonesty really has no borders.

Now let’s look at Costa Rica. Prior to moving here you should do your homework and hook up with people who can help you make the move seamlessly. The problem is that some people move here and leave their “brain on the plain.” Either they lack common sense or want everything to work their way. Thus they are doomed to failure and will have a whole slew of bad experiences here.

As a good friend of mine says, “There are no victims, only volunteers.” By not learning the language, trying to take short cuts, not getting good recommendations and not making an effort to understand the culture many of these people fall into the clutches of dishonest individuals and end up getting raked over the coals.

There are no more dishonest people here than any other place in the world. The come in all colors, sizes and shapes. Expats often complain of a two-tiered price system: one for the ticos and another for gringos. In a few cases this can be true. If you do your due diligence and homework you shouldn’t get gypped or over pay for products or services. I think I know more people here who have been ripped of by other Americans than by Costa Ricans.

Another thing to consider is that we are in bad economic times and it is very hard to sell property anyplace in the world let alone Costa Rica. A lot of the people who are complaining that they overpaid for their property and can’t sell it were bubbling with enthusiasm when they made their original purchase and expected to make a handsome profit because of the real estate boom.

Now all you hear is complaining and finger pointing. I know an American couple that made $300,000 to $400,000 during the boom a couple of years ago by just buying and selling a property in a short period of time. They made another investment for around $100,000 and because the market is currently bad, they haven’t been able to sell it. Eventually they will make some money but have to be patient and stop their complaining.

The bottom line: It is important to look at things in proper perspective and not pay attention to all of the bitching, complaining, stereotyping and accusations you read in the on-line forums. You really have to know the real story behind the story before drawing any conclusions.