I'm assuming that your aunt left a Will upon her demise. The date of your aunt's death will determine the answer to your question. If your aunt died before November 28, 2020, her estate is subject to the Puerto Rico Civil Code of 1930. After November 28, 2020, her estate is subject to the... View More

You need to speak with a PR estate planning attorney if the property is in PR as you have stated. Things to consider include, is there a Will, what does the property deed say, is there a Trust? It is possible the property will pass to your mom per PR laws, Will and or other estate planning that is... View More

This is something that attorneys who work with estates would know better than civil litigation (the posted category) attorneys, but the question remains open for almost a week. I'm sorry for the family's loss. You could repost the question under Puerto Rico (see "show more... View More

When a close relative dies, such as the case of your grandfather, the first thing that needs to be done is whether the deceased died having left a Will or not. If no Will exists, a Declaration of Heirs must be petitioned from the Puerto Rico court. Depending on when your grandfather died, the court... View More

I'm assuming that the will was granted in Puerto Rico. If that's the case, the Puerto Rico Notary Law demands that an attorney-notary who has authorized a will must notify a certified copy of said will with the Office of Notary Inspection's Registry of Wills. If your sisters wish to... View More

The test results only present a probability of kinship between 2 sisters, especially when related by only one parent. Photo comparison with grandparents and other relatives also help. How and under what circumstances DID your father recognize her as his daughter?

You don’t state what form did your dad’s recognition of your (apparent) sister take. If your dad recognized her as his legal daughter in a Last Will & Testament, she would only need to provide proof of identity. With no Will, you’d both need to go before the court for a Declaration of... View More

There are many questions yet to be answered in your request. Did either grandparent leave a will? were declaration of heirs petitions brought before the Puerto Rico courts? were their estates liquidated during your deceased mother's lifetime? Do you have any siblings from your mom? How many... View More

Puerto Rico Civil Code does not allow for donations to be made which may be perjudicial to an heir's share, should the donor die. That being said, a legitimate scenario would be for the two married couples incorporate or establish a commercial society, and transfer the property to the... View More

Since your grandmother resides in Puerto Rico, your question would be better directed to attorneys in Puerto Rico instead of New York. However, regardless of the jurisdiction, a living will does not address the disposition of property but merely the care of someone who may become incapacitated.

This is not a Family Law question and is not in New York. This should be posted in the estates catagory and in Puerto Rico.

An attorney should be able to get you the death certificate and find out who the executor is if indeed you appear as the beneficiary on the will.

In order to procure your father's will, you first need to procure or provide his death certificate. With the certificate, we request a certification of will from the Office of Notary Inspections. Said certification will identify whether your father was testate upon his death, the will's... View More

If the person passed away in Puerto Rico and you are a beneficiary, an attorney should be able to obtain the death certificate for you, as well as a copy of the will.

I'm assuming that your grandfather died in Puerto Rico and that he granted his Last Will & Testament in Puerto Rico. As such, the first step would be to procure a copy of his death certificate from the Demographics Registry. With the certificate in hand, a request for certification would... View More

First off, in an estate where the heirs have been registered as the new owners of the real estate property, the other co-owners may require the heir (or son of the heir) to pay rent to the community. This, however, would be prospective, as of the date on which a formal letter is sent to the party... View More

After November 28, 2020, a new Puerto Rico Civil Code came into effect. One of the primary changes regarding successions (probate law) has to do with the fact that the spouse is now as much a legal heir as the rest of your children. The Puerto Rico Civil Code also states that a person can donate... View More

First off, unless your mother donates the property to you by way of a deed the Property Registry would still register the real estate in her name. Once she transfers the property in fee simple to you, it needs to be inscribed in your name by filing a certified copy of the donation deed and of your... View More

Typically, inheritance or probate norms vary depending on where the real estate assets are located. In the case of Puerto Rico, specific inheritance laws are in effect. You need to have a PR-licensed attorney look into your estate, given that we have what is called "forced heirs". The... View More

To answer your question, I'd need to know what sort of litigation has been going on between you and your siblings. Upon the passing of parents who may or may not have granted their last will and testament, Puerto Rico Rule of Law provides heirs the chance to arrive at some form of agreement... View More