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answered on Jul 6, 2023
My first stop would be with the Property Registry. Request a registry certification with tract history for the property. You'll need the lot ("finca") number and the demarcation (where the property is located), and it'll let you know if the property has been foreclosed and... View More 
Landlord will keep security deposit for breach of contract but still wants me to pay the full amount of the lease term. Landlord has a new tenant in the unit. Can the landlord legally ask me for money while receiving money from the new tenant?
answered on Jul 6, 2023
Your question does not state if the lease contract was signed in Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, what's valid is not whether he leased the residence to a new tenant, but rather what you agreed to in your lease contract. If said contract has a penalty clause for early termination, then your ex... View More
My father who was a resident of Puerto Rico passed away. He had a house where the mortgage was more than the value of the house. The house is going into foreclosure and will likely not bring much money. Am I responsible for that debt or does the debt stop with the value of the estate?
answered on Jul 6, 2023
The Rule of Law in Puerto Rico for hereditary estates is that the heirs, having accepted their inheritance, subrogate themselves in the deceased place regarding the estate's assets and liabilities. If an estate is more debt than assets, the heirs may repudiate their inheritance. Be advised... View More
answered on Jul 10, 2023
You can revoke a power-of-attorney by subscribing a deed poll explicitly identifying the power-of-attorney you wish to revoke. It you live in the states, the poll deed must identify any real estate included in the original power of attorney. (a) The protocolized deed poll must be filed with the... View More
Ive been living in Puerto Rico with my grandmother for the last 5 years, when i came down to pr my parents were in a bad spot and could not properly take care of me, i told her everything and she put me under a guardianship with her, the last time i was informed on what was going on with the... View More
answered on Jun 21, 2023
A person comes of age in Puerto Rico at 21. What your grandmother has told you is not correct nor is it legal. If you're already 21 years of age or older, you are legally capable of making your own decisions and leaving, if you wish to do so.
If you're studying in college, you do... View More
The brothers have been named the heirs. Does that now make them legally responsible to pay the mortgage on the house he owned? If they do not pay the mortgage and let the bank foreclose will their credit be affected?
answered on Jun 21, 2023
Succession Rule of Law in Puerto Rico states that your late uncle's estate is made up of his assets and his liabilities. Therefore, any mortgages and liens on real estate property would also have to be assumed by your late uncle's siblings. If the outstanding debts exceed the... View More
answered on Jun 15, 2023
Puerto Rico labor laws allow for minors to work, so long as it's no more than 20 hours per week. Beyond that, the minor's legal guardian or parent must submit a request for authorization with the Puerto Rico Labor Department.
I don’t live in PR but I want to have a cowner to a property i inherited.
answered on Jun 13, 2023
As a general rule, whether you have an proprietary interest in an hereditary estate or whether you are the sole owner of said inheritance, you can cede, donate, or sell part of your participation or all of it, by way of a deed subscribed before a notary in Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, if you are in... View More
I have lived in this neighborhood for 6 years now and the home in front of mine is my neighbors daughter who passed a long time ago. I'm assuming there are no heirs but i'd like the property to be mine. How do I go about asking my neighbor about maybe getting the home?
answered on Jun 8, 2023
It may not be so simple. The Puerto Rico Civil Code states the order of an intestate succession: if the deceased owner left no descendants, and had no spouse, it would go to the deceased parents. If these are no longer living, it would go to the deceased siblings, nephews, and nieces, if none are... View More
She was asked following her term in 2018. Recently since May of last year she has been asked again repeatedly. She says she has them but shrugs it off as forgetting to bring them when she is on site. These are important to our history and what decisions were made in the past. We are in Puerto Rico.
answered on Jun 8, 2023
If the HOA covers a condominium, the first forum would be to go before the Department of Consumer Affairs. If it is a closed urbanization or community, you could file a lawsuit against the former secretary before a court of law. However, before taking that drastic of a measure, the current... View More
I have documents from notary and register and fica number. How do I proceed, CRIM says candastre number but i can't find that number on receipts. I don't think he completed the task fully. What should I do?
answered on Jun 8, 2023
You can bring to CRIM the previous owner's social security # (which the attorney should have, since he should've also filed the change in the property's ownership before the Puerto Rico Treasury Department (“Planilla Informativa sobre segregación, agrupación o traslado de Bienes... View More
answered on Jun 9, 2023
You do not provide enough information to answer your question. Several factors that affect the costs are: how many heirs are there? Are they all alive? If any have died, did he/she leave descendants? Are these descendants all alive? Are any heirs minors (underage)? Did the deceased leave bank... View More
My uncle and father co-own two houses and land in Puerto Rico. My father died several years ago and his lawyer has contacted me requesting my birth certificate to finalize the inheritance. My Uncle also wants to negotiate buying my half of the property. Can I contact a lawyer in Puerto Rico to... View More
answered on Jun 1, 2023
You can retain the services of an attorney in Puerto Rico, even if you live in New York. You do not state who hired the attorney who requested your birth certificate. Neither do you mention whether you're an only child or whether you have siblings. It seems that your late father did not leave... View More
answered on May 30, 2023
I need additional information before I can answer your question. When was the sale closed? What state do you reside in? If you live outside Puerto Rico, the local Revenue Code requires that a 15% retention be automatically made against sales proceeds for non Puerto Rico residents. This retention is... View More
It’s a home and land in Rio Grande Puerto Rico. Wish to build on land but I’m getting the runaround. They harass my brother who has a mental disability. I want to build a home that is modern and secure for him and myself to stay in with no problems from the rest of the family. I’ve requested... View More
answered on May 30, 2023
The information you require may be found in the Puerto Rico Property Registry. You'll need your father's full name and the location of the property. If you have the plot ("finca") number would be so much better, as well as the cadaster number under which the real estate is filed... View More
My father is 87yo and would like to avoid going anywhere to sign documents etc. Related to a sale of a property he owns. How much +/- it will cost?
answered on May 30, 2023
An attorney in Puerto Rico can represent your father for the purposes of selling real estate property, so long as your father is in full possession of his mental faculties and grants a power-of-attorney to authorize the Puerto Rico attorney to represent him in the sale. The power-of-attorney must... View More
We had a child custody order, and I maintain jursidiction in my state. She moved to PR with child. Based on my state, child support will end at 18. After it's completed, can she in turn file for child support in PR upon my child turning 18 as a new child support case?
answered on May 29, 2023
First off, she must reside in Puerto Rico with your child for a year, in order to demostrate residence. Once Puerto Rico is the state of residence, adulthood is achieved upon reaching 21. So long as you pay child support, you can present the case to the court or to ASUME (the Administration for... View More
The land is in Cabo Rojo. My great grandmother’s home has been vacant for 25 years. I was told family can build on this land, but there are no deeds to it. My great grandmother had many siblings and many have build homes without a deed.
answered on May 22, 2023
The answer to your question entails procuring a Certification of your family's land from the Puerto Rico Property Registry. That will let you know whether the portion you speak of has been segregated or not.
If the portion was segregated, then the Puerto Rico Property Registry should... View More
My father’s will gave my mentally disabled sister 75% of the house and surrounding land in Puerto Rico with the balance divided evenly between me, my other 2 sisters and my brother. However because she can’t live alone (my father was taking care of her on the property) she wants to give me her... View More
answered on May 22, 2023
The only way to achieve this would be through a court authorization. Puerto Rico Civil Code presumes that all adults are judicially capable to make their own decisions. In the case of mentally disabled adults, a lawsuit must be filed with the court to legally incapacitate your sister and assign her... View More
The Hoa president is now requiring all those that rent subscribe and acquire a hotel # whether you a business or not n also charging a fee of $150:for damages of guest. First can she force you to register and ask for the # and can she collect a damage fee per guest?
answered on May 22, 2023
There is no way to address your question for lack of additional information. I recommend that you revisit the rental contract or sales deed (as may be the case) and peruse to identify what is said regarding future additional fees. If you signed a contract or deed that includes the possibility of... View More
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