Best Places In The World To Retire

Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (The United Mexican States) has a national government which is stable.

The government is a democracy. It is a federal republic composed of 31 states and Mexico City (formerly the Federal District). Mexico City is the capital of the federation and has many of the responsibilities of a state, but it is not a state. It is, however, the seat of the federal government and the heart of the country.

Mexico is governed by a Constitution...

Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (The United Mexican States) has a national government which is stable.

The government is a democracy. It is a federal republic composed of 31 states and Mexico City (formerly the Federal District). Mexico City is the capital of the federation and has many of the responsibilities of a state, but it is not a state. It is, however, the seat of the federal government and the heart of the country.

Mexico is governed by a Constitution which was approved February 5, 1917. It is the basis for the legal system which is also influenced by legislation, regulations, case law, doctrines, customs, and general principles of law. Mexican law follows the traditions of civil law as opposed to the tradition of common law which is the basis of the legal systems in the US and Canada.

The national government has three branches, which are executive, legislative and judicial. The three branches are independent of each other and create a separation of powers with a system of checks and balances.

The president and his cabinet head the executive branch. The President also is both the head of government and the chief of state. The current President of Mexico is Enrique Peña Nieto who took office on Dec. 1, 2012.

The legislative branch consists of the Camara de Senadores (Senate) and the Camara de Diputados (Chamber of Deputies). There are 128 Senators with 98 elected for 6-year terms and 500 Deputies elected for 3-year terms. Legislators cannot be reelected for the next immediate term.

The judicial branch is composed of the Supreme Court, the Council of the Federal Judiciary, circuit, collegiate, unitary, state and district courts.

State governments in Mexico each have their own constitutions and they are all federal systems with three branches of government. In each state, the head of the executive branch is the governor. The legislative branch is composed of one body (congress) and the judicial branch includes a state supreme court and various local tribunals serve in a single house in each state. The governor and deputies cannot be reelected for the next immediate terms. States are independent and autonomous and the federal government cannot intervene unless there is a severe emergency.

Municipios (municipalities) are the smallest form of government in Mexico.  They are headed by an ayuntamiento (municipal council) and a presidente municipal (municipal president) or mayor. The mayor and council members cannot be reelected for the next immediate terms.

 

Photos:

El Palacio Nacional en Mexico City

Gary Coles in front of the Antiguo Palacio del Ayuntamiento

Mexico City

 

 

Yes, there are some great areas for diving around or near Basimentos. Favorites include the coral reef off of the Caribbean side of Bastimentos. Others are the Crawl Key area and the Zapatilla Islands, both in the Bastimentos National Marine Park. There is also a nice reef off of Carenero's Caribbean side. History buffs dive off of Hospital Point on Solarte (Nancy's Key). At the turn of the century, there was a hospital there which served the Chiquita Banana operations. Empty...

Yes, there are some great areas for diving around or near Basimentos. Favorites include the coral reef off of the Caribbean side of Bastimentos. Others are the Crawl Key area and the Zapatilla Islands, both in the Bastimentos National Marine Park. There is also a nice reef off of Carenero's Caribbean side. History buffs dive off of Hospital Point on Solarte (Nancy's Key). At the turn of the century, there was a hospital there which served the Chiquita Banana operations. Empty medicine bottles and other hubris were simply thrown into the bay. Though depleted over time, you can still find old medicine bottles which are now rare antiques. There are several diving operations in the islands that can help you find, and take you to, the best diving-snorkeling areas. Prices are reasonable and equipment can be rented. Enjoy!

The best hospitals in Nicaragua are in Managua.  Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas is right now, the best one, and is internationally certified even in the United States.
 
There is another huge hospital being built in Managua that belongs to the military but that also will serve private patients scheduled to accept patients in the beginning of 2015.  We are told that it will be the largest hospital in Central America. The cost to build the hospital is over...

The best hospitals in Nicaragua are in Managua.  Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas is right now, the best one, and is internationally certified even in the United States.
 
There is another huge hospital being built in Managua that belongs to the military but that also will serve private patients scheduled to accept patients in the beginning of 2015.  We are told that it will be the largest hospital in Central America. The cost to build the hospital is over $50 million, which for Nicaragua and Central America, is a big investment.
 
Hospital Salud Integral is another private hospital in Managua that is in good standing where people from other countries come to have certain surgeries done. 
 
The good hospitals to have surgeries done are in Nicaragua are all in Managua. This may seem inconvenient until you consider that the distances in Nicaragua between the major population centers and where expats are most likely to live are short.  You can come from Granada to Managua in 40 minutes.  You can come from San Juan del Sur to Managua in an hour and forty-five minutes.  You can come from Leon to Managua in one hour.
 
All the main cities have small local hospitals and clinics, which are public.  However, there are also private medical facilities in the small cities.  You have private doctors who have their clinics in Granada and Leon, and in San Juan del Sur I’m sure there are one or two private doctors who can at least assist in an emergency.  

Foreigners can absolutely own land in Belize. You do not need to have a residency or be a citizen in order to buy titled property in Belize. An expat cannot own leased property because only Belizeans are entitled to that but you can definitely own a titled property. You can also have free hold property here in Belize. A free hold property means that is it yours outright.

Foreigners can absolutely own land in Belize. You do not need to have a residency or be a citizen in order to buy titled property in Belize. An expat cannot own leased property because only Belizeans are entitled to that but you can definitely own a titled property. You can also have free hold property here in Belize. A free hold property means that is it yours outright.

It is not mandatory to hire an attorney to buy a house in Portugal.  However, and especially if you are a foreigner, it is strongly advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you and make sure that you signed the right contract, that you are buying the right property, and that the property does not have any liens, encumbrances or charges registered on it.
 
The role of the lawyer in the process of acquiring a property is to do a due diligence on the legal documentation of the...

It is not mandatory to hire an attorney to buy a house in Portugal.  However, and especially if you are a foreigner, it is strongly advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you and make sure that you signed the right contract, that you are buying the right property, and that the property does not have any liens, encumbrances or charges registered on it.
 
The role of the lawyer in the process of acquiring a property is to do a due diligence on the legal documentation of the property, assist in the negotiation of the promissory contract of purchase and sale (typically in Portugal the buyer and seller sign a promissory agreement first and complete on the acquisition within 30 to 60 days) and at the end organize and represent you in the signature of the public deed of purchase and sale that is usually done before a notary and with the registration of the acquisition at the land registry office.
 
Please note that all documentation together with the public deed of purchase and sale will have to be done in Portuguese.  Therefore, if you do not speak Portuguese it will be complicated to assure that all your rights are being taken care of.
 
Finally please also note that Portuguese lawyers registered at the bar association in Portugal will have professional liability insurance which assures the payment of compensation to clients that are wrongly advised.

 

(Tiled house  in Alcochete, Portugal, pictured.)