Our Mission
We are a unique law firm. Our mission is to provide each and every one of our clients with in-depth, individualized and custom representation. We take the time to listen to our clients. We make sure your legal documents reflect your desires, goals, and intentions. We educate every client who comes through our office so that they make intelligent decisions and understand the legal consequences of those decisions. We want you to know what risks you are taking – before you take the risk.
When you are investing a large amount of money in a foreign country where the language, law, and business practices are different than those in your home country, you must understand exactly what you are doing and what the consequences are. The decisions you are making will affect the rest of your life. We are adamant that no one should allow themselves to be funneled through a land purchase deal they do not fully understand.
We do things one way—the right way.
We're here to help.
At CancunLaw, we know that it's incredibly important to find an attorney and legal team that fits your needs and personality. That's why we offer consultations to determine if we would be a good fit.
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History
Folsom y Asociados, S.C., (d/b/a CancunLaw), began operations in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, in 1994, with full authorization of the Mexican government. Folsom was the only Mexican law firm authorized by the government to be owned outright by U.S. attorneys and allowed to offer both U.S. and Mexican legal services. It reportedly still is today.
Since then, Folsom has represented people from all over the world who are starting businesses, purchasing homes, and relocating into Mexico. It has also represented Mexican citizens and businesses with family, property, worker's compensation, and other legal interests and investments in the U.S.
Folsom moved its operations to Cancun in 2003, just before the Mayan Riviera and Mexico became one of the hottest real estate markets in the world. By then, having ten years of experience as the only U.S. law firm in Mexico, it continued to be the preeminent firm for foreign (Non-Mexican citizen) purchasers and sellers of Mexican beach front real estate.
Then, as now, we represent clients purchasing Mexican property in title, fideicomiso or corporate form, not only in the Mayan Riviera and the Yucatan, but all around Mexico, including Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Puerto Moreles, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Tulum, Xcalack, Chetumal, Valladolid, and Merida. We have also represented clients in, among other places, Puerto Vallarta, Sayulite, Acapulco, Guanajuato, Baja California, San Miguel de Allende and Sonora.
The Team
Founding Partner
Janet Folsom
With the exception of a few short years, Janet Folsom has spent her entire legal career practicing law in Mexico. She first came to Mexico in 1992 to study Spanish. Her plan was to stay six months.
Because this was before the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect, the Mexican government granted her request for a special permit allowing her to create a Mexican law firm to be owned outright by U.S. lawyers and allowing it to offer legal services in both U.S. and Mexico law. This effectively created the U.S.-Mexico law industry. After NAFTA went into effect, the government was limited in its ability to grant these types of permits, and reportedly, no more such permits have been granted.
All these years later, Janet is still here, still representing clients in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, the Riviera Maya, and beyond.
Janet began her early career in the mountain resort towns of Colorado where she worked as a deputy district attorney for the District Attorney’s Office of the 5th Judicial District. Later she moved to Denver and worked in civil practice representing clients such as the Denver mayor, Denver International Airport, and the Resolution Trust Corporation.
Folsom earned her juris doctorate degree from Denver University in 1987. While studying at DU, she worked in the Denver District Court, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, and in the Adams County District Court.
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Lic. Juan Irving Aguilar Aguiar
Juan Irving Aguilar Aguiar graduated from law school in Merida, Yucatan in 1998. During his law school years, he worked in the family law courts and criminal courts. After receiving his license to practice law, he worked in civil firms specializing in family and litigation matters.
In 2002, he opened his own law firm in Cancun where he provides legal services in corporations, real property, wills, trusts, notary law, litigation and election law. He continues to operate his law firm today and has worked closely with Folsom y Asociados, S.C., since 2003.
Outside the office, Juan Irving Aguilar actively participates in community programs promoting social development and attention to juveniles. He has also held several positions as a law professor.
He has post-graduate and advanced certifications in the areas of documents, handwriting, and fingerprint analysis, corporate law, family law, and valuation of damages. He has over ten years of advanced courses in election law and procedure and over 12 years of continuing education in litigation matters.