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Puerto Rico Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My father and his sister own a small piece of land/ home in Puerto Rico they want to sell before they pass away

The property currently is completely up to date, no taxes owed and the paperwork to the land was finalized and corrected through the courts in Dec 2021. My question is, someone wants to purchase the home/land in cash and we are not sure what to do. My dad's family in PR is saying that the... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 30, 2022

Having a buyer with the cash to purchase the property is common. Nevertheless, your question fails to mention the proposed purchase price. First, I would advise your father and aunt to have the property appraised by a professional appraiser in Puerto Rico. The appraiser's report will give them... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Puerto Rico on
Q: How can I move a child support case from ASUME to ORS in the states?

Various times throughout the past 2 years I have tried to contact ASUME by phone and email to no avail. My child and his mother have moved to the same state I reside in and have now lived here for about 4-5 years, however the child support case is still with ASUME in PR where they were living... View More

Jose M. Rivera Santos
Jose M. Rivera Santos pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 28, 2022

Greetings:

The case belongs to the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico.

Since the case was filed there, the agency has the prerogative to keep jurisdiction and supervise it till its very end.

Legal age in the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico is reached when the dependent turns 21 years...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: To register property in Rincon Puerto Rico , must you notify your surrounding neighbors with register letters?
Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 28, 2022

Your question is too ambiguous for a straight answer. If you wish to request a domain file ("expediente de dominio") before the Puerto Rico courts over a property not currently registered in the public registry, part of the process requires you to procure sworn statements from your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Puerto Rico on
Q: Is my Will/Trust where I reside valid in Puerto Rico or do I need a Puerto Rico Will/Trust for PR property?

All other assets are in and our permanent residence is in FL. The House in Puerto Rico is owned Jointly (JTWRS) with my wife. Per the FL will/revocable trust, my wife will inherit everything but if/when she passes, our three kids will inherit the assets equally, including the PR house. We... View More

Ramon  Olivencia
Ramon Olivencia
answered on Mar 21, 2022

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

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law and Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Does one have to pay federal taxes on the sale of land or property in PR? Specifically on inherited property?

CRIM tells me that the only name on their listing is my father’s therefore my sisters and I are the only heirs. Someone wants to buy the property ( cash sale), according to them once we have the declaration of heirs the property is transferred and there are no closing cost or taxes to be pay on... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 21, 2022

What you say is not entirely correct.

As a rule, there is no inheritance tax applied. Once the declaration of heirs has been issued by the Puerto Rico courts, you need to procure a certification of value and a certification of debt from CRIM. With these certifications and a copy of the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation and Estate Planning for Puerto Rico on
Q: I thank you in advance for your time.This is regarding a home in Puerto Rico which my parents left to five siblings.

Outside of issuing an addiction notice , We have been in litigation for the last six years the 4 siblings have incurred legal and court fees that’s been a financial burden! Does PR Law support a civil case to recoup financial loses towards the sibling that refuse the sale of the home.

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 21, 2022

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

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: As of the new law that has passed 2022 tax withholding in PR when a prop is sold 4out5 siblings Out-of-state

We have a buyer put in an offer we’re in the process of contract one of the contingencies on the contract is that the BUYER would withhold the funds for the tax withholding.

my question is could the contingency be redirected and not have the buyer take that position? Could it be... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 21, 2022

The Puerto Rico Treasury Code requires that the 15% retention of amounts due to a Seller living outside Puerto Rico be retained at the point of origin by either the bank financing the sale or the notary authorizing the sales deed. Failure to execute this mandatory retention would cause the Treasury... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My mom passed on 12/11/21 in Massachusetts and married. Dad and Mom own house in PR, are the kids entitled to anything?

My mother and father were legally married at the time of my mother's passing. They own a home in PR but both have children from previous marriages. What are my mother's children entitled to? Can we ask that her husband pay us her half of the home's value if he is unwilling to sell the home?

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 17, 2022

Pursuant to Puerto Rico’s Civil Code, all of your late mother’s children have an hereditary interest in her entire estate.

Assuming that your parents did not have a prenup in place during their marriage, their house in Puerto Rico was jointly owned by both under a legal joint community...
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1 Answer | Asked in Lemon Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Does a used car from 2007 with 150000 miles have a guarantee from a used car dealer?

I drove the car for 38 miles and started to have transmission problems. The dealer said that I don't have a guarantee or a refund due to the car having more than a 100,000 miles.

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 9, 2022

For the sake of discussion, I'm assuming that the vehicle was purchased and is in use in Puerto Rico. Regulation 7159 of the Puerto Rico Consumer Affairs Department (DACO) states the following warranties are in effect, based upon the mileage of the car:

* Up to 36,000 miles, 4 months...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My dad left me a property stated on the will in p.r. And my stepmom the house free disposition. Do I have rights to it?
Ramon  Olivencia
Ramon Olivencia
answered on Mar 6, 2022

It´s impossible to give you a straight answer without looking at the will. It will also depend on when he passed away, assuming he did already. You should consult with a probate or inheritance attorney.

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: I live in Maryland, I have a house in PR I wish to donate to my Niece in PR. No lien, taxes paid. How do I do it?

The house is paid off. All taxes up to date to CRIM. Do I need to travel to PR to do the transfer?

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Mar 4, 2022

You may donate the real estate property by subscribing a deed. You may do so from the states, in which case, the original subscribed poll deed would need to be protocolized in Puerto Rico. Under this scenario, your niece would need to grant a donation acceptance poll deed.

In the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: I live in Puerto Rico with my daughter. I received a Family Court Summons from Bronx, NY.

I live in Puerto Rico. I was summoned to the Family Court in Bronx, NY, for custody/visitation. My main concern is why this case is going to be examined in NY if my daughter and I lived in PR for almost a year (since March 2021), and before that, she was born and we live in NJ. As per my limited... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 23, 2022

Although you're residing in Puerto Rico for a year does grant Puerto Rico courts jurisdiction over your child, you should not ignore the summons from a New York court. I recommend that you contact an attorney authorized the practice of law in New York and have him or her counsel you regarding... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Civil Litigation for Puerto Rico on
Q: How can the sale of a house in Puerto Rico be accomplished when one of four inheritors refuses to sell the house.

The probation of the inheritance has been completed. The house was the only property in the inheritance. There were no assets, liabilities or money in the inheritance. Each inheritor receive a different percentage of the house as inheritance. One inheritor received a majority percentage of the... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 21, 2022

When you state that inheritance probation has been accomplished, does this include updating the public registry to reflect the participation and percentages of all heirs? Assuming that this is the case, given the refusal of one of the heirs, your best recourse would be to go before the Puerto Rico... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Hi there, How can i acquire a title for my deceased mothers house in PR?

My mother passed away 6 months ago but always made clear before she passed that the house was to belong to my brother and I after she was deceased. However, because of thw laws in PR when she signed for the house my father had to come from the states to sign off as well. Apparently in PR, if you... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 21, 2022

Under the Puerto Rico Civil Code, if the house was acquired while your parents were married with no prenup, the house actually belonged to the joint conjugal partnership ("sociedad legal de gananciales") formed by your father and mother, which is a legal entity separate from either... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My mother was living in PR but died in the states. I'm trying to buy the house but my dad wont sell for appraisal price.

I'm in the process of buying the house but we need to make a sales contract but my father wants to sell the house for more than what it appraised. My siblines from my moms side resigned from moms inheritance but I did not. Mom also died in the states in 2017 due to health reasons and she was... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 14, 2022

Your mother died under the old Puerto Rico Civil Code of 1930. I'm assuming that the house you speak of was the marital house in which you dad and your mom lived. Should that be the case, your dad is probably 50% co-owner of said property; and the other 50% would belong to your mother's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: For someone to purchase land in Puerto Rico , must a property survey take place before the closing ?
Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 14, 2022

The answer to your question depends on several factors. For example, if the buyer requires to take out a mortgage to purchase the property, the financing institution will require a recent property survey to have a clearer understanding of the property's value. Even if the buyer has the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Family Law and Wrongful Death for Puerto Rico on
Q: My father died in Puerto Rico he build a home for us but he has people living inside what can I do to get the home
Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 9, 2022

The first step to taking possession of the real estate property is by establishing whether your late father had granted his Last Will and Testament before dying. Else, I would recommend going before the Puerto Rico courts to petition a declaration of heirs. Once either the Will or the court's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Puerto Rico on
Q: My wife's grandmother has died in Puerto Rico no surviving Husband or Children. Six Grand children and house with Mtg.

The Will she left only mentions giving to three of the grand children. What are the rights of the other 3 grand children with regard to the "forced heirs" inheritance laws in PR? Also since the house has a lien of $80,000 mortgage to the bank, how does that impact any sale or... View More

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 7, 2022

Regarding your grandmother's will, upon the death of her children, her grandchildren become her legitimate heirs in their own right by representation of their parents. Thus, by leaving out three of her grandchildren without explicitly disinheriting them pursuant to the permissible causes under... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My Inlaws do not have a Will and wish to leave the home to one child. Can a Will serve the purpose?

There are 3 living children.

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Feb 4, 2022

I'm assuming that your in-laws live in Puerto Rico; else, I cannot help you. You tell me that your in-laws have three offspring. For the sake of discussion, I'm assuming that none are minors nor incapacitated. The Puerto Rico Civil Code establishes that -absent a will- all three have... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: I have a problem my grandmothers house has been abandon since she died 20 year ago. My mother decided to to live in moms

House I her daughter spent 30 thousand to fix it so my mother can live there. After the house is done two weeks later my mom passes away . Now do I have any rights to the house because I invest 30 thousand dollars in fixing it .

Rafael  Pagan-Colon
Rafael Pagan-Colon
answered on Jan 31, 2022

At the very least, you certainly have a right to a credit of the $30,000 you spent repairing the property; provided that you have the receipts to prove such expenditures. Regarding any further rights that you may have on your grandmother's and/or your mother's estates, several questions... View More

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