Expat Law Group
About the firm

Three people. One small practice.

Boutique by design. We help expats with visa, family, wills, and property matters in Ecuador, and hundreds of clients in, it is still three people working with each client directly.

The practice

Why we exist.

The New Cathedral over the rooftops of Cuenca, Ecuador
Cuenca, Ecuador Where we practice

E xpat legal work is rarely one-and-done: a visa becomes a renewal, a marriage becomes a will, a purchase becomes an estate. We built ELG to be the firm you call once and keep calling.

Small enough to know your file: Sabrina as the generalist attorney for the paperwork of settling in, Wolfram for property and succession, and Betsy leading visas from the first message through the cédula.

We turn down work we cannot do well, we have never employed a salesperson, and fees are scoped in writing before anything starts.

What makes us different

Four things, in order of importance.

  • Attorneys where it counts

    Sabrina and Wolfram, licensed Ecuadorian attorneys, handle the legal work that needs one. Visa work runs through a specialist team that has filed hundreds.

  • Fees you see before we start

    Visa work is billed 50/50, half to begin and half on completion. Other matters are scoped in writing before any work. Either way, you know the cost up front.

  • Bilingual by default

    Every consultation, document, and email is available in your language. Spanish is a first-class language of the firm, not a translation layer.

  • Small, on purpose

    The person you meet on the first call is the person handling your matter, start to finish. No juniors, no call center.

In the client's words VISA · GOOGLE REVIEW

Betsy Prado. An amazing lawyer and a caring human being. She made a difficult process bearable and always kept a calm and professional attitude. I recommend her highly.

Maxine Google review · 5 stars · ELG visa client
Who you'll work with

The same people, start to finish.

From your first message to your cédula in hand, the same people stay with your matter.

Sabrina Candela, Attorney at Expat Law Group

Sabrina Candela

Attorney · Family, wills, property & business

Sabrina is our generalist attorney. Most expats work with her once they've settled and start dealing with the paperwork that comes with living somewhere long-term: writing an Ecuadorian will alongside one back home, buying an apartment, forming a small business, sorting out apostilles for a document that has to travel back to the US or Europe.

She works in English and Spanish, keeps her explanations plain, and tells you what to expect at each step so nothing catches you by surprise.

Wolfram Palacio, Attorney at Expat Law Group

Wolfram Palacio

Attorney · Property, family & succession

Wolfram handles property, family, and succession work. Buying or selling an apartment, transferring title, planning how a family's property moves to the next generation, or the family matters that come up along the way.

He's methodical, bilingual, and known for walking clients through what's actually in the contract rather than just telling them to sign.

Betsy Prado, Visa lead at Expat Law Group

Betsy Prado

Visa lead · Immigration

Betsy has been Cuenca's visa specialist for years and has processed hundreds of residency applications: Pensioner, Rentista, Investor, Professional, Marriage, Digital Nomad, and every kind of dependent case. She knows Migración Azogues personally, files online since Ecuador moved the process in November 2025, and has a 99% approval rate on filed cases, because she won't take a case she can't win.

Her practice is built on plain answers. If your situation is straightforward, she'll say so. If there's a wrinkle worth flagging, she'll flag it before you pay anything.

How we meet

Wherever suits you.

Most matters start with a video call. In-person meetings happen where it suits you best. We arrange a location with you when we confirm the meeting.

By video

Most first conversations happen on Google Meet or WhatsApp video, whichever you prefer. We will send a calendar invite in your timezone.

In person

When we meet in person, we arrange a time and place in Cuenca that suits you, an office or a quiet café. By appointment.

Hours

Monday to Friday, 09h00 to 17h00 Ecuador Time (UTC-5). Closed Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays.

Get in touch

Send us your situation.

Two ways in. Both reach the same small team.

WRITTEN · REPLY IN 1 DAY

Send your situation

Two minutes of context. We reply within 1 business day, EN or ES.

Open the form
WHATSAPP

Or message us on WhatsApp

+593 97 922 2991. Same team, same one-business-day reply.

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