Q: Law in Puerto Rico. Where can I get a copy of my deed . I cannot locate my original? My property is in Boqueron, Puerto

A: Getting a copy of your deed from a deceased attorney in Puerto Rico is complicated. First, you must contact the district or region on the island where the attorney used to practice, called the Notarial Archive ("Archivo Notarial"). Then, after several days of searching for the deed, they will tell you the government fees to be paid, which will vary depending on the number of pages of the document. These fees must be brought in or sent after purchasing them at a local bank, e.g., Banco Popular. Finally, you have to send or deliver them, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, so you can get it back by regular mail unless you decide to go in personally. As you can see, it is a pretty tedious process, particularly for a non-attorney. Therefore, if you prefer, you can go to our website, as listed on my profile, and order that document from us directly so that you don´t have to do all the legwork.

A: If you can identify the Boqueron property in the Property Registry, you can identify the deed #, subscription date, and the notary before whom it was signed. If you already have this information, you may call the Office of Notary Inspections to determiner where the notary's deed protocol (his collection of original deeds) is located - probably with the Notary Archive of the town or municipality where the notary practiced law - then request a certifiec copy of the deed.