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Puerto Rico Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: How do we deal with a person who has a small business on our property in Puerto Rico without our permission?

My father lives in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico and has a small piece of land across the street from his house. There is a main road between his house and a small business a nephew started without my father's permission. The nephew has been there for at least 5 years. It's a place to sell... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Aug 2, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. All he needs to do is to get an Attorney to file a process known as "Desahucio" which will have the Court order his nephew and the business removed from the Property.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Bought property from my mom and dad in Puerto Rico. What do I need to transfer the property under my name.

I already have a written agreement by a lawyer and signed by all parties with the purchase agreement. What additional paperwork would I need to make this official.

Ramon  Olivencia
Ramon Olivencia
answered on Jul 22, 2019

1. Sales deed to be prepared by an attorney with both parties appearing (sellers and buyers)

2. Transfer at the Property Registry

3. Transfer at the property tax agency (CRIM)

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: What rights do fathers have in custody cases?

A couple was married 2 years, and have 2 children. After multiple attempts at reconciliation due to her cheating, they separated. She took kids and moved to Puerto Rico from Florida without father's permission. Father moved for a 2 yr period to Puerto Rico to be close to kids. But now he... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 20, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. That amount requested by your wife for child support sounds very extravagant. The child support laws are very clear cita. It tales both parties monthly income and then refers to a chart that sets a number for child support based on the percentage that each... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Litigation and Identity Theft for Puerto Rico on
Q: What are alimony laws in Puerto Rico?

A couple were married a little over 2 years while living in Florida... in those 2 years, wife cheated 3 times, and they attempted reconciliation. After the 3rd time, they separated, and she took kids and moved to Puerto Rico. They've been separated 4 yrs, and he wishes to divorce legally to... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 20, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. There is no alimony per say under Puerto Rico law. The only rights she would have is child support payments and half of all marital property. The child support is determined by calculating the sum of both parties monthly income and then finding said sum in the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Can a sibling sell inherited property without the authorization of all siblings?

9 siblings inherited my mother’s property 4 want to sell the others are opposed. Can they sell the property without everyone’s consent.

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 16, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. As per law, no one is forced to remain in a community of property. Thus if one member of the Estate wishes to sell his/her share they can do it without the authorization of the remaining members of said community. Either the remaining members buy said share or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Business Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: How do I stop partner from keeping all of the rent from our property in Puerto Rico refusing to pay the taxes?
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 8, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. The best remedy is to speak with your partner and explain that taxes are an obligational part of life . One can go to mail for tax evation. If this remedy does not work then you Will have to file a court claim requesting the Court to order the partner to pay... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Child Support through ASUME in PR for 2 kids. the oldest recently came to live with me. How can I proceed about the CS?

I pay Child Support for 2 kids through ASUME in PR, but I'm located in TX. My kids have been living in CT for the last 5 years. My daughter is about to be eighteen, and came to live with me after her High School Graduation, but my son stayed with the Custodial Parent. How can I proceed to... 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 Jul 8, 2019

You and the family lawyer that you hire will have to file the correspondent ASUME claims and allegations in your original case in Puerto Rico.

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for Puerto Rico on
Q: We're curious if we are currently living in the states and my husband pays child support here, would he still be.. oblig

Obligated to continue paying if we ended up moving to Puerto Rico? Because the age limit is entirely different from there.

Jose M. Rivera Santos
Jose M. Rivera Santos pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 8, 2019

If you were to close the child support case in the State that you're actually have your legal residence and move to Puerto Rico while your child is legally underage (under 21 years of age) in the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico, given other requirements, you should be able to hire legal... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and International Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: In puerto rico I'm backed up on child support . Can I be denied visitation of my child?
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 4, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. No you cannot. Child support payments and visitation rights are two totally seperate issues and are not based one on the other.

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Puerto Rico on
Q: My child is 18 and has received child support from Philadelphia since she was an infant ..but we have lived in PR for 18

years and in PR she is still a minor until 21.....can the child support case be tranfered from Philly to PR ?

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 2, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. You will need to open a new case in Puerto Rico.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My father is incapacitated. Do we need to prove to the courts who he is before we seek guardianship

My father is 95 and we think he may have dementia. He can't take care of himself. He is living in an adult care facility. He doesn't remember his children. His wife just recently passed away. His children all live in the states. My oldest brother has decided to move to Puerto Rico to seek... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 1, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. You will need to hire an Attorney in Puerto Rico for the process of guardianship. There has to be a record of his birth registered somewhere since he has kids and had a wife so he does exist. Normally these birth certificate from 1920's can be found in the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Gm i have been living in a house own by my father for 18 years. He has his own house. I am 44 years old.

My father is telling Me my partner is not allowed here. Do I have rights to the squatters law?

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 1, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. The closest thing to "Squaters law"that we have in Puerto Rico is known as "USUCAPION". The rules are very specific and apply to invaiders of property. You are not an invaider of property thus this would not apply to your situation. Your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: Is a person living in newyork can sue me if i live in puerto rico ?

Hi i live in Puerto Rico I buy a part from a computer on ebay from a seller living in NewYork, i returned the part because it was defective and now the seller is sending me emails saying that he lawsuit me for froud and thief.

I have not sleep in days because what this person doing for no... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jul 1, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. Yes they can sue but not in New York. It would have to be in Puerto Rico at the Federal Court since there is a diversity of Residency. You need to verify with E-Bay what the rules are for transactions made on thier site as to place of transaction. Where the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury for Puerto Rico on
Q: If I fell on a restaurant premises in Puerto Rico can I sue them since I tore my foot ligament. I live in Florida
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jun 30, 2019

I'm sorry about your injury. It's possible you could, if your injury resulted from their negligence. An attorney would need to examine the circumstances of the incident in greater detail to give you a meaningful answer regarding your particular situation. Since no one picked up your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My mother can’t remember the day she got married and needs the marriage license. Any recommendations?

She was married in Puerto Rico and unless she know the date no one can help her. Without it she can’t get her ID. No idea what to do

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 24, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. Yes you can attempt to remember the year, month, town, church, place of reception, who Made the cake, catering service, original bank account date, purchase of marital house, social security information, life insurances policies, medical insurance policies,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: How can I acquire a good Lawyer in Puerto Rico to handle an Estate & Inheritance issue in Caguas, PR, from New York?

My father's eldest sibling passed away in December of 2016, in Caguas PR. He was my father's only remaining sibling, was unmarried and had no children.

Shortly after his brother's passing, my father went to Puerto Rico to arrange his brother's funeral and secure his... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 24, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. In order to do this you Will need to do research and evaluate your findings. A good way is to evaluate these websites, the prófiles and the Answers given to questions that the lawyers answer. I for one am an Attorney in Puerto Rico and speak English fluently.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Puerto Rico on
Q: My father bought a piece of land with a old shack house and a family member builds reconstruction house on my land do I

Own just the land or both the land and the house

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 22, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. If the construction was done with your father's authorization then the family member pena the house. It all depends on what the agreement between them was. However there are varios legal procedures that can reverse the ownership of the Property in favor of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Banking for Puerto Rico on
Q: My grandfather has a joint Banco popular account with my mother she has passed. Now its frozen for 2 years please help

My sister was head of my mother's estate and knowing that account wasn't my mother's she informed the bank about my mother's death. She never listed the account in probate court and never helped get the account reopened it's been closed now for 2 years now and my... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Jun 20, 2019

Unless someone does something before your grandfather passes Banco Popular will win. If they have not been doing it already, Banco Popular will start service charging the account each month, draining off as much money as possible before the government of Puerto Rico requires them to turn over... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Divorce for Puerto Rico on
Q: Does a person filing divorce have to go to family court in Puerto Rico to determine custody of children?

A friend of mine lived in Puerto Rico until 6 months ago. He moved to Puerto Rico from Florida when his wife moved to Puerto Rico with kids to stay close to kids and be involved in their lives. Even while separated he provides $1000/ month to support the kids. He's been separated from wife for... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 19, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. The divorce process is held in family Court. The process includes determinación of parens patria,custody, child support and visitation rights if the parties do not reach an agreement among themselves. Our system is extremely jealous in protecting the children... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Puerto Rico on
Q: Do I have legal ownership of my social sec number, passport and birth certificate at 18 years old in Puerto Rico?

My mother threw me out a year and a half ago just as I had turned 17. I’ve been living with my grandparents ever since in the same town and turned 18 last November. My mother refuses to give me my legal documents, even though I’m of legal age. My passport is also the only form of identification... View More

Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
Nelson Jose Francisco Alvarez-Aponte
answered on Jun 17, 2019

Hello and thank you for using JUSTIA. The legal age in Puerto Rico is 21 not 18. However, since the passport and social security are federal government issued documents you do have the right to get copies of said documents from these agencias. You can also attempt to get emancipated from your... View More

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