Welcome to our website! Our Team at the Attorney General's Ministry worked very hard in preparing the information being shared with you. It is my hope that you will find it helpful in orienting you as to the work done at our Ministry. It is also my hope that you will find it useful to access the Laws of Belize, helpful information regarding our associated units, and publications by our Team.

The Attorney General's Ministry has four units: (1) The Litigation Unit which handles all government litigation, (2) The Legislative Drafting Unit which drafts all legislative instruments enacted by the National Assembly or made by the Executive, (3) The Legal Advice Unit which provides legal advice to the Executive, and (4) The International Legal Affairs Unit which handles all mutual legal assistance offered to foreign states. These Units are all run by Crown Counsel who are trained attorneys at law dedicated to the public service and the business of governance.

We also have other government units that we manage such as the Marriage Registry, the Vital Statistics Unit, and the Belize Intellectual Property Office, and we have provided helpful links to these units as well.

Our Team takes great pride in the work performed in the public service and we aspire to offer the best professional service to the government and people of Belize. We aspire to embrace technology and innovation to make our work and the service rendered more efficient and transparent.

I invite you to explore our website and please feel free to contact us with any queries and suggestions for improvement. I thank you.

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AFFAIRS UNIT

October 2nd, 2025

Attorney General Anthony Sylvestre and Senior Crown Counsel, Ms. Stacy Martinez are currently in Panama representing Belize at the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (“CFATF”) Steering Group Meeting and the 17th Council of Ministers Meeting, from 1 October to 3 October.

Belize achieved a monumental milestone last year by becoming a member for the first time on the coveted CFATF Steering Group for the period 2024-2026. The CFATF Steering Group is one of the vital decision-making body of CFATF, where issues of budget, human resources and the mutual evaluation processes are funneled through the Steering Group for their approval before it is tabled to the Ministers for their consideration and approval. Therefore, Belize, now being a member of the Steering Group has the opportunity to make meaningful contributions that aligns with its risks and context.

Belize becoming a member of the Steering Group signals the Government of Belize continued effort to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

CFATF is a body established in the early 1990s and works to ensure member countries effectively combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The organization assists member countries by assessing their compliance with FAFT required standards and providing continuous support and information sharing to deal with the arduous work of maintaining compliance with international standards.

BELIZE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE

October 6th, 2025

Successful Validation Workshop on Belize’s Draft Geographical Indications Bill held at Copal Tree Lodge. On Friday, 26th September 2025, The Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO), in collaboration with the Directorate General for Foreign Trade (DGFT), successfully hosted a Validation Workshop on the Draft Geographical Indications (GI) Bill at the Copal Tree Lodge Conference Room in Punta Gorda, Toledo. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the productive sector to review and provide input on the proposed legislation that will strengthen Belize’s framework for the protection of Geographical Indications.

The session opened with remarks by Ms. M. Ventura, EPA Coordinator at DGFT, and Ms. Kay King, Deputy Registrar at BELIPO, who both underscored the importance of GIs in promoting Belizean products, protecting traditional knowledge, and enhancing the country’s competitiveness in international trade.The workshop included interactive discussions, allowing producers and stakeholders to share perspectives and explore how GIs can serve as a powerful tool to promote Belizean goods such as cacao, vanilla, rum, and other products with unique qualities tied to their geographical origin.

As part of the program, representatives from BELIPO and DGFT were given the opportunity to participate in enriching tours hosted by Copal Tree Farm and Distillery, which included:

• 1. A chocolate overview showcasing Belize’s world-class cacao;
• 2. A short vanilla tour, highlighting the potential of this valuable crop; and
• 3. A distillery tour, offering insight into the production of premium Belizean spirits.

The Validation Workshop marks a key step in advancing the Belize Draft Geographical Indications Bill, which seeks to align the country’s legal framework with international standards while supporting local industries and safeguarding Belize’s cultural and economic heritage.

LITIGATION UNIT

The Attorney General's Ministry is pleased to announce that, through the efforts of retained Senior Counsel and our own Head of Litigation, the people and the Government of Belize have been saved from having to pay out millions of dollars.

The Court of Appeal handed down a landmark decision in the case of Rudolph Ramirez & Anor against the Attorney General on Friday, August 29, 2025. This reversed a $2.1 million liability imposed on the Government of Belize by the High Court in January 2024 and clarified the law on an important matter: what happens when the Government issues title to the same land to more than one person.

LEGAL ADVISE AND SERVICES CENTRE

Navigating Asset Division After a Long-Term Common Law Relationship

October 8th, 2025

Case Spotlight: Equitable Distribution After a 20-Year Common Law Union. In this issue, we examine a recent case that sheds light on the complexities of asset division following the breakdown of a long-term common law relationship—a situation increasingly common in today’s legal landscape.

Background

This case involves a couple who had lived together in a committed relationship for over 20 years. The Common Law Wife, a mother of four, and the Common Law Husband built a life together in which:

• • The Husband assumed the role of primary breadwinner, covering all major household and child-related expenses.
• • The Wife managed the home and children, while also operating a small business.
• • Together, they acquired three properties, one of which served as the matrimonial home.

Despite never marrying, their long-term cohabitation and mutual financial and domestic contributions raised important questions when their relationship ended: How should the assets be divided?