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My husband moved to Puerto Rico with his mistress, she is now pregnant. I live in California with our 4 year old child. He has refused to pay child support and evaded all financial responsibility for our baby. We are still legally married, currently going through a divorce. He has spend all our... View More 
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answered on Apr 3, 2024
I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly difficult situation. What your husband has done is awful and unfair to you and your child. Unfortunately, California law does not allow for criminal charges to be filed against a spouse for adultery. California is a "no-fault"... View More
the property and demanding that I pay for her lawyers' fees. This is not a divorce case. We own a condominium apartment and this is our first home together. We have owned the property for a year now. I paid more than half of the apartment cost, yet we still own it 50/50. I left said property... View More
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answered on Mar 26, 2024
When you decide to donate your half of the property in Puerto Rico to your ex, there could be tax implications depending on the value of the property and the laws in place. In Puerto Rico, the donation of real estate is subject to the payment of a donation tax unless specific exemptions apply. This... View More
My mom lived in the property and she was still charged by "CRIM", even though it is her only property. She filed for an exemption which she never got an answer back from "CRIM". She wants to donate it to me before she dies and I think it is unfair they charged her taxes, what... View More
answered on Mar 26, 2024
If the property is your mother's primary residence, she'd need to verify whether an exemption was ever made. CRIM provides for an exemption if the real estate property (1) is the owner's primary residence; (2) the home value is <= $150,000; and (3) an exemption was requested from... View More
My mom lived in the property and she was still charged by "CRIM", even though it is her only property. She filed for an exemption which she never got an answer back from "CRIM". She wants to donate it to me before she dies and I think it is unfair they charged her taxes, what... View More
answered on Mar 26, 2024
The property tax exemption for residing at the main residence in Puerto Rico is not automatic. It has to be applied for and is only valid until a certain amount, although most residences in Puerto Rico, except the very expensive ones, qualify.
If she has a copy of the receipt of the... View More
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answered on Mar 25, 2024
In Puerto Rico, declaring your home as a homestead may provide certain protections if you declare bankruptcy, but there are conditions and limits. The homestead exemption is meant to help you keep your primary residence, under specific circumstances, even when you're facing financial... View More
answered on Mar 24, 2024
As a debtor, you are the one who claims your exempt property; if anyone, including a bankruptcy trustee, objects, a written Objection must be filed, and you, as debtor, have the opportunity to respond, and thereafter, the Bankruptcy Judge will conduct a hearing on the Objecttion.
There is... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2024
The amount of the homestead exemption that you are entitled to claim varies from state to state. I'm a California attorney, but I looked it up on Google and it appears that you are entitled to an unlimited homestead exemption in Puerto Rico. However, before you proceed, you should consult a... View More
My dad passed away in 2015 he has a house in PR that me and my mother have been keeping up with and we would like to sell it but we first have to switch it over to our name can we do that while taxes are still unpaid?
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answered on Mar 13, 2024
Transferring ownership of a property with unpaid taxes can be complicated and may vary depending on the specific laws and regulations of Puerto Rico. However, in general, under federal law, it is possible to transfer ownership of a property even if there are outstanding property taxes owed. That... View More
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answered on Mar 11, 2024
Yes, alimony (also known as spousal support or maintenance) can be ordered in Puerto Rico following a divorce, just as it can in U.S. states. However, there are a few important points to consider in your situation:
1. Time since divorce: In most cases, if alimony was not originally ordered... View More
daughter open a bank account under her name and he gave her funds to put in it. HIs wish was that when he passed she would distribute the funds per his wishes. Which she did. 2 weeks after his passing someone found a will and is now saying that the money in her account should be part of the will.... View More
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answered on Mar 11, 2024
That sounds like an inter vivos gift! Even if it was a joint account with rights of survivorship, that money typically would avoid probate and his daughter would be free to distribute it however she wished (maybe even if she didn't comply with your father in law's directions).
If I can give it back, how long do I have to do so?
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answered on Mar 6, 2024
When you buy a used vehicle and start experiencing problems, the options available for returning it depend on the terms of the sale and local laws. In Puerto Rico, as in many places, the ability to return a used vehicle and the timeframe for doing so may be limited, especially if the vehicle was... View More
they had no will.
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answered on Mar 4, 2024
When a property is inherited due to the passing of relatives and you are considering selling your share to a stepbrother, understanding the tax implications is important. If they passed away without a will, typically, the property's ownership would be determined by the state's intestacy... View More
My sister & I are declared heirs & paying taxes to CRIM since our mom’s passing in 2016, but 1 of the properties (land only) is not registered in our name at Prop. of Registry. It’s registered to our grandfather for more than 100 yrs. It was an unresolved matter for mom to register it... View More
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answered on Mar 2, 2024
In Puerto Rico, dealing with inheritance and property taxes involves navigating a complex legal landscape, especially when property titles and registrations involve unresolved issues from past generations. If you and your sister are considering not passing a specific piece of land to your children... View More
My greataunt passed a few months ago. We notified the creditors and tried to cancel all cards. She left a will but the money she had was used for funeral and medical expenses in the months she was sick. She did leave some land though. Can the heirs in the will inherit the credit card debt? I know... View More
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answered on Feb 28, 2024
According to Puerto Rico law, credit card debt is generally not inherited by heirs named in a will.
Specifically, Article 584 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code states that heirs are only responsible for a deceased person's debts up to the value of the property they inherit.
So if... View More
I was raised by my grandparents and potentially found out through ancestry.com that my grandma may have had children from a previous marriage. If she did, they were not born or raised in PR, but neither was I. Do I need to disclose potential/alleged children if I don't have legal confirmation... View More
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answered on Feb 24, 2024
In Puerto Rico, the process of verifying heirs and confirming entitlement to inheritance typically involves a civil procedure overseen by the courts. If you suspect that there may be additional heirs entitled to inheritance, it's important to disclose any information or evidence you have, even... View More
My great grandfather was a famous architect who gave 13 acres to my grandfather who placed this land into my grandmothers name in which she abandoned after a family tragedy struck where her son (my uncle) murdered her husband my grandfather, she then moved to hoconuco alto and remained there until... View More
answered on Feb 8, 2024
You should start with the names of your great grandfather, the architect, your grandfather, and your grandmother, in two fronts: through the CRIM's digital cadaster, searching by their names. If you find the cadaster #, then proceed to the Property Registry. An agent ("gestor", in... View More
There’s 3 children but father left the will only to 1. This was approved by a lawyer. Can the other 2 children still fight to claim some of the will?
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answered on Feb 4, 2024
In this situation, it's important to understand that the validity of a will and the rights of the children may vary depending on the laws of the jurisdiction in question, which, in this case, is Puerto Rico. In general, a person has the right to create a will and leave their assets to whomever... View More
What are the steps to take? Thank you
answered on Feb 2, 2024
Your step-mom can donate the house to you by way of a deed. However, although you express that her one living son has no interest, in the event of your step-mom's passing, the value of all donations made during the final 10 years of her life will be brought back to her estate, and you may find... View More
House in Bayamon Puerto Rico. How do we claim house
answered on Feb 2, 2024
In the absence of a will, the alternative is to go before the Court of First Instance of Bayamon to petition a declaration of heirs for each dead parent. In the case of the 2 dead children, their offsprings would inherit in their deceased parent's stead. After obtaining the declaration of... View More
One heir has fired her lawyers and then was none responsive for 3 years. Now she is hiring a new lawyer. Can she be held accountable for everything that has to be done again? Ex. Appraisal of the house. Also, am I at risk of losing any part of the inheritance? Ex. Money in bank accounts.
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answered on Feb 1, 2024
In a Puerto Rico inheritance case where one heir has been unresponsive and caused delays, it can be challenging, but it does not necessarily mean you will lose your inheritance. The heir who has been unresponsive may face consequences for the delays, especially if it has caused additional expenses... View More
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