Q: How do I find out if my aunt left a will? She lived in Puerto Rico when she passed.
Didn't find any documents when I went to clean out her home.
A:
The process entails submitting a copy of your late aunt's death certificate, then, preparing and submitting a request for testmentary certification to the Office of Notary Inspections ("ODIN", by its Spanish acronym). ODIN will certify whether or not your aunt left a will and identify the notary who authorized it and the date on which your late aunt subscribed her will. In Puerto Rico, the authorizing notary must file a certified copy of the will within 24 hours of its signing.
If no will exists, you'd have to file a petition for declaration of heirs before the Puerto Rico court; or go before a notary authorized to practice in Puerto Rico for a declaration of heirs following the non-contentious affairs procedure.
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