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Puerto Rico Tax Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Mom passed in 2005, she owned lots of land and buildings. No Inheritance Tax Return was ever filed.

Is there a tax with interest and penalty due. Value of Estate is around $4m. There has been 3 bad lawyers involved and internal as well as external fighting that has now lasted 17yrs from DOD. I am very concerned about potential liabilities. All born in PR, 3 live in USA and 1 still lives in P.R..

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 8, 2020

Hello and thank you for using Justia. Very sorry to read that you have had horrible expirience with the prior three Attornys.

An Inheritance Tax Return must be filed as soon as possible. There will be a Tax liability on the value of the Estate plus penalties and ingrest fees. In addition...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: How do squters get their power and water turned on with out owning the deed to a property.
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Apr 19, 2020

Hello and thank you for using Justia. Usually a sworn Declaration stating that they are the residents of said property will allow them to get public utilities connected.

2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My dad has property in Puerto Rico. He is now in a nursing home in NJ. Will we lose the property? What can I do to claim

I would like to know if notorized letter is signed in NJ will it help with changing name on property in PR. Not sure, what I need to do as my father is now in a nursing home. He never fixed the right papers to leave me the property. I don't know if the property will be lost?

D. Mathew Blackburn
D. Mathew Blackburn
answered on Nov 5, 2019

No, a notarized letter is not sufficient to transfer real property. You need a properly drafted deed signed and notarized by your father. First you'll need to determine the ramifications of a transfer. Will this effect medicaid /medicare, will it be a taxable gift, does he have an estate plan,... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Uncle passed away and had no children. Only surviving relative is my mom. Is she the owner of his property now?

No known will is in place. And we don't know if annual taxes have been paid on property.

Ramon  Olivencia
Ramon Olivencia
answered on Aug 31, 2019

If the property is located in PR and his parents are no longer alive, and he did not leave a will, then the heir will be your mom but the inheritance process will have to be done in order for her to formally become the owner. If the property was his principal residence and he had obtained full... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Tax Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Hello! Will the money received by ex spouse as divorce settlement be taxed?
Andrew M Steiger
Andrew M Steiger
answered on Jun 11, 2019

In general, the 2017 TCJA changes the tax laws related to divorce in some key respects. The tax aspects of a property settlement did not change where property changes hands at the time the divorce is finalized. But be careful of receiving property with a built in tax gain where the value exceeds... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Estate Planning for Puerto Rico on
Q: My grandmother wants to sign the deed for her property over to me in Puerto Rico. what complications may I face?

She has the deed and it is registered with the property registry in her county under her name. I am not sure if she owes any taxes etc. on the property but she has owned this land for over 30 years. The property needs maintenance as well. I am looking for some tips in the right directin on how... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 11, 2018

Good evening and thank you for using JUSTIA. There are various questions you need to be answered before you accept such as is there a mortgage, is this her only property, are there any children (future inheritors), is it tax free, any liens, ect. The first thing you should do is have a title search... View More

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