Law of Mexico

Module 6

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

Private law in Mexico is codified. The Federal Civil Code of 1928 and the civil codes of the states and Mexico City govern contracts, civil liability, property, family and succession, with similar structures but differences by state. Land is governed by Article 27 of the Constitution, which recognises private property, but also ejidos and communal land, and restricts direct ownership by foreigners near borders and coasts, where a bank trust (fideicomiso) is used instead. Family law covers civil marriage, property regimes, divorce and children’s rights. Wills and intestate succession usually go through a notary. For an outsider, the practical risks are buying land without checking its status, informal agreements and no will.

General education on the law of Mexico, using invented people and businesses. It states laws and procedures in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law and its practice change, and every case turns on its facts, the authority and the state concerned. It does not offer legal representation or a legal opinion on any case. Consult a Mexican lawyer for any real matter.

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.