Is Mexican law the same in every state?

No. The federal Constitution and federal laws apply everywhere, but each state has its own civil, family and criminal codes, so rules on marriage, land and crimes can differ. The course explains where each level applies.

The juicio de amparo is a constitutional remedy that lets a person ask a federal court to protect them against a law or an act of authority that violates their rights. The course explains its types, its short deadline and the reform of 2025.

Can a foreigner own land in Mexico?

Yes in most of the country, but not directly within one hundred kilometres of the borders or fifty kilometres of the coasts, where a bank trust (fideicomiso) is used. Ejido land has special rules and cannot simply be sold. The course explains the checks to make.

Is it for people who want to practise Mexican law?

No. It is a first course for the people who deal with Mexican law. Only a Mexican lawyer with a professional licence can advise on Mexican law and act in the courts, and the course says when you need one.

Are the tools real data?

No. The tools apply well-known rules in simplified form to invented facts. They show the structure of the answer and cannot decide a case.

Does it give the current rule on every point?

It teaches the provisions that have lasted. The judicial reform, the amparo reform, the labour and working-week reforms, the data protection law, immigration categories and tax rules are changing, so check the current text for any real matter.

How do I get the Certificate of Completion?

Sign in, pass each module quiz and keep a course average of at least 75. The certificate is then issued and emailed to you automatically.

This course explains the law of Mexico, not US law. Rules that look the same elsewhere may be different.

Course · Law by country · Mexico

Mexican Law

The law of Mexico for the people who deal with it: a federal civil-law republic with a social Constitution, distinctive protection of rights through the amparo, the recognition of indigenous peoples, the ejido and the restricted zone, the labour reform and the judicial reform of 2024, business, tax, criminal justice and international law.

Modules

Practice rooms

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5 hours

Estimated study time

$15

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Mexico is a federal republic with a civil-law system and one of the most distinctive constitutional traditions in the Americas. Its Constitution of 1917 was among the first in the world to recognise social rights, on land and labour. Its law grew from Spanish colonial law, was codified on European models, and is today shaped by a federal structure of 31 states and Mexico City, by the recognition of indigenous peoples and their normative systems, and by a particular constitutional remedy, the juicio de amparo, which lets a person ask a federal court for protection against an authority. In recent years its institutions have changed fast: a judicial reform of 2024 introduced the election of judges, a labour reform of 2019 created labour courts and a constitutional reform of 2026 provides for a gradual 40-hour week. This course gives a complete first map for the people who deal with Mexican law, from the point of view of the foreigner. It starts with the history, the sources and the legal order; then the federal institutions; then federalism, the states and indigenous law; then the courts and the legal professions; then rights, nationality and the amparo; then contract, land, family law and succession; then business, employment and tax; and finally criminal justice, the specialised fields and international law. It uses invented people and businesses, and three working tools.

The Curriculum

Foundations of Mexican law: Spanish colonial law, independence and the Constitutions, the Constitution of 1917, the sources and hierarchy of law, the civil law tradition and legal pluralism→

Colonial and constitutional history, the Constitution of 1917, sources and hierarchy of law, the civil law tradition and legal pluralism. Practice: Which Source?, What Ranks First? and Spot the Mistake.

The Constitution and the federal institutions: the republic, the President, the Congress of the Union, how a law is made, the public administration and elections→

The republic and the Constitution, the President, the Congress, the legislative process, the administration and elections. Practice: Who Does What?, Apply the Rule and Spot the Mistake.

Federalism, the states and indigenous law: the Federation and the states, Mexico City, the municipality, indigenous peoples and communities, community justice and Afro-Mexican communities→

Federal and state powers, Mexico City, municipalities, indigenous peoples and community justice. Practice: Which Level?, What Applies Here? and Spot the Mistake.

Courts and the legal professions: the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court, the judicial reform, state and specialised courts, lawyers, notaries and public brokers→

The federal and state courts, the judicial reform, the specialised tribunals and the legal professions. Practice: Which Court?, Who May Act? and Spot the Mistake.

Rights, citizenship and the amparo: human rights in the Constitution, nationality and foreigners, the juicio de amparo, administrative law and public integrity→

Human rights, nationality and foreigners, the amparo, administrative law and anti-corruption. Practice: Which Remedy?, What Would You Do? and Spot the Mistake.

Contract, land, family and succession: the civil codes, contracts and remedies, civil liability, private land and the ejido, foreigners and the restricted zone, marriage and divorce, wills and inheritance→

Contracts and remedies, liability, land and the ejido, foreigners and the restricted zone, family law and succession. Practice: Which Regime?, What Is the Risk? and Spot the Mistake.

Business, employment and tax: companies, setting up and foreign investment, competition and consumers, the labour reform and labour courts, the 40-hour week and tax→

Companies, foreign investment, competition, employment, the labour courts and tax. Practice: Which Body?, What Should They Do? and Spot the Mistake.

Criminal justice and specialised fields: the accusatorial system, the criminal codes, environment and natural resources, intellectual property, data protection, treaties, arbitration and foreign judgments→

The accusatorial system, penal codes, environment and resources, intellectual property, data, treaties and arbitration. Practice: Which Stage?, What Applies Here? and Spot the Mistake.

Capstone: Capstone: Emma Carlson and the Tulum guesthouse→

A guesthouse in Tulum, a permit, a company form and a local supplier, a coastal plot and the ejido, a dismissal, and a mixed marriage and a will. Choose the route, the form, the forum and the remedy.

What It Covers

Foundations of Mexican law: Spanish colonial law, independence and the Constitutions, the Constitution of 1917, the sources and hierarchy of law, the civil law tradition and legal pluralismThe Constitution and the federal institutions: the republic, the President, the Congress of the Union, how a law is made, the public administration and electionsFederalism, the states and indigenous law: the Federation and the states, Mexico City, the municipality, indigenous peoples and communities, community justice and Afro-Mexican communitiesCourts and the legal professions: the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court, the judicial reform, state and specialised courts, lawyers, notaries and public brokersRights, citizenship and the amparo: human rights in the Constitution, nationality and foreigners, the juicio de amparo, administrative law and public integrityContract, land, family and succession: the civil codes, contracts and remedies, civil liability, private land and the ejido, foreigners and the restricted zone, marriage and divorce, wills and inheritanceBusiness, employment and tax: companies, setting up and foreign investment, competition and consumers, the labour reform and labour courts, the 40-hour week and taxCriminal justice and specialised fields: the accusatorial system, the criminal codes, environment and natural resources, intellectual property, data protection, treaties, arbitration and foreign judgmentsCapstone: Emma Carlson and the Tulum guesthouse

“You will be able to say, for any problem you may have in Mexico, which rule applies (including whether federal law, state law, municipal rules or indigenous custom governs it and how the Constitution limits it), which court or authority decides it, which time limit runs and which professional you need.”

Written for the foreigner and honest about Mexico’s layered order: it explains the civil-law tradition, the federal structure and the recognition of indigenous normative systems instead of treating Mexico as a single code, and follows the questions a visitor, resident, employee, family or business actually has.
Teaches the structure behind the rules, so that a student who knows how the Constitution, general laws, state codes, the amparo and the notarial and registry system fit together can read any new rule and compare Mexican law with other civil-law systems.
Three tools with invented facts: a Residence Status Finder, an Entity Chooser and a Court and Forum Finder, each showing how the answer changes when a fact does, including the restricted zone and the ejido.
Honest about limits: the judicial reform of 2024, the amparo reform of 2025, the new data protection law and the 40-hour week reform of 2026 are recent and still being developed, so the course teaches the structure and flags where to check the current text. It states no changing figures and is general education, not advice.

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Module 1 is free to try. Sign in, pass each module quiz and the course average, and your Certificate of Completion is emailed to you automatically. This course teaches method and technique with invented people and figures; it is general education, not legal advice, and professional rules differ from country to country.

Common questions

Is Mexican law the same in every state?: No. The federal Constitution and federal laws apply everywhere, but each state has its own civil, family and criminal codes, so rules on marriage, land and crimes can differ. The course explains where each level applies.
What is the amparo?: The juicio de amparo is a constitutional remedy that lets a person ask a federal court to protect them against a law or an act of authority that violates their rights. The course explains its types, its short deadline and the reform of 2025.
Can a foreigner own land in Mexico?: Yes in most of the country, but not directly within one hundred kilometres of the borders or fifty kilometres of the coasts, where a bank trust (fideicomiso) is used. Ejido land has special rules and cannot simply be sold. The course explains the checks to make.
Is it for people who want to practise Mexican law?: No. It is a first course for the people who deal with Mexican law. Only a Mexican lawyer with a professional licence can advise on Mexican law and act in the courts, and the course says when you need one.
Are the tools real data?: No. The tools apply well-known rules in simplified form to invented facts. They show the structure of the answer and cannot decide a case.
Does it give the current rule on every point?: It teaches the provisions that have lasted. The judicial reform, the amparo reform, the labour and working-week reforms, the data protection law, immigration categories and tax rules are changing, so check the current text for any real matter.
How do I get the Certificate of Completion?: Sign in, pass each module quiz and keep a course average of at least 75. The certificate is then issued and emailed to you automatically.

This course was written on 6 November 2026. To the best of our knowledge, it describes the law of Mexico as it stood on that date. Laws change, and we may have missed or misunderstood something. If you notice a change, or have other information, please do not hesitate to contact us: we will review it and update the course. We do not claim to be the final source of the law.

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