What is an inheritance in Puerto Rico?
An estate is the collection of assets, rights, and obligations that a person leaves behind upon death. Legally, the deceased person is referred to as the decedent.
In order for the assets to be formally transferred to the heirs, the corresponding legal and administrative procedures must be completed.
An inheritance may include:
- real estate;
- bank accounts and other funds;
- vehicles;
- debts;
- other property or rights.
📌 Before requesting an evaluation
Please read all the guidance on this page first. Complete the Assessment Form only if your case meets the specified criteria and you have the necessary information and documentation.
🏠 If the inheritance includes real estate:
We need a copy of the deed, a title search, or documentation from the Land Registry. A document from the CRIM alone is not sufficient.
We need a copy of the deed, a title search, or documentation from the Land Registry. A document from the CRIM alone is not sufficient.
⚠️ Cases We Do Not Handle
- disputes among heirs, challenges, or other litigation;
- cases involving a large number of heirs;
- cases involving multiple decedents related to the estate;
- Estates of people who died more than 20 years ago.
If your case falls into any of these categories, do not complete the Assessment Form. If you do not yet have the necessary information and documentation, please gather them before completing the form.
How to Settle an Inheritance in Puerto Rico
We Abogado Notario Online we handle non-contentious probate matters and coordinate the necessary procedures based on the assets and circumstances of each case.
- We verify whether there is a will.
If there is no will, we can file for a declaration of inheritance ( Declaration of Heirs ) to officially identify the heirs. - We file the “ Inheritance Estate Form ” form.
We report the assets to the Department of the Treasury and request the “ Waiver ” or the corresponding certification. - We manage properties and CRIM matters.
When real estate is involved, we coordinate the necessary procedures with the Property Registry and CRIM. - We coordinate bank accounts and other funds.
We handle the necessary paperwork for the disbursement to the heirs. - We handle all vehicle-related procedures.
If there are vehicles registered in Puerto Rico, we provide guidance or coordinate their transfer, depending on the specifics of the case.
📄 Information and documents you should have on hand
- information about potential heirs;
- the deceased person's main assets and debts;
- if the estate includes real property, a copy of the deed, a title search, or documentation from the Land Registry;
- any other available documents related to the estate.
You don't need to have all your certificates from the Demographic Registry yet. If you need birth, marriage, or death certificates from Puerto Rico, we can obtain them for you.
To find out what information and documents you need to gather, see our Inheritance Checklist in Puerto Rico.
Why hire Abogado Notario Online to handle your Declaration of Heirs?
- ✅ Comprehensive Management — We prepare, file, and follow up on the legal proceedings.
- ✅ Online Service — We can handle the process from anywhere, without the need to travel.
- ✅ Efficient coordination — We can also handle other estate-related matters.
- ✅ Greater clarity — We'll let you know which documents and procedures apply to your case.
Costs and Fees
We charge a flat fee, which is determined based on the scope of the case and the necessary steps involved.
After reviewing the Evaluation Form, we will notify you in writing:
- the total cost;
- the procedures included;
- the necessary documents;
- the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inheritance in Puerto Rico
1) What is the first step when a family member passes away?
You should begin by identifying the potential heirs, verifying whether there is a will, and gathering information about the assets, debts, and available documents.
2) What happens if the deceased person did not leave a will?
It will generally be necessary to obtain a Declaration of Heirs to officially identify the persons entitled to inherit.
3) Who are the heirs when there is no will?
It depends on which relatives survive the deceased. The presence of children, a spouse, parents, or other relatives can determine who inherits and in what proportion.
4) How long does it take and how much does it cost to settle an estate?
It depends on the assets, documents, heirs, and necessary procedures. After evaluating the case, we will inform you in writing of the cost and scope of the service. The time required will also depend on the agencies and institutions involved.
5) Are inheritances subject to taxes in Puerto Rico?
Each case must be evaluated individually. Although many estates do not incur an estate tax, the necessary procedures must generally be completed with the Department of the Treasury, and the deceased person’s outstanding obligations must be verified.
6) Can you process the inheritance if I live outside of Puerto Rico?
Yes. We can handle the process online even if the heirs live in the United States or another country, without them having to travel to Puerto Rico.
7) Do you handle real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles?
Based on the agreed-upon scope, we can handle procedures related to real estate, CRIM, and bank accounts, and provide guidance or coordinate the requirements for vehicles.
8) Can I fill out the form if there is a property but I don't have the deed?
Not yet. If the inheritance includes real estate, we need a copy of the deed, a title search, or documentation from the Land Registry, such as a registration certificate. A document from the CRIM alone is not sufficient.
Inheritance Assessment Form
⚠️ Before filling out the form
First, read all the guidance available on this page and gather the necessary information and documentation.
Only if, after reading this page, you understand that your case meets the specified criteria and you have the necessary information and documentation to evaluate it, should you complete the Inheritance Evaluation Form.
⏰ Responses via email only: 3–5 business days.
Inheritance Assessment Form
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Customer reviews
- really professional, responds quickly to emails and changed my name in just two months. He is the best person you want representing you in Puerto Rico when it comes to doing paperwork.read moreread lessElliot Rubero08/04/2022
- English: The professionalism and dedication that Attorney Olivencia demonstrated in providing his services were a blessing to our family. The legal matters he handled were highly complex and required a great deal of effort and work on his part (Declaration of Heirs, sale of a house in Puerto Rico, distribution of proceeds to the heirs, preparation of multiple powers of attorney, requests for various documents and certificates from different government agencies in Puerto Rico, etc.), and everything was handled online and via email since we do not live in Puerto Rico. He was precise, efficient, and knowledgeable about the laws in the United States, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and Europe. He approached the matters he was handling with the utmost respect and treated us with respect and dignity. We will not hesitate to reach out to him for help if we need it in the future. Spanish: The seriousness and professionalism demonstrated by Attorney Olivencia were a blessing to me and our family. The legal matters he handled were very complex in nature, requiring a great deal of work and effort on his part ( Declaration of Heirs, sale of a home in Puerto Rico, distribution of funds to the owner and heirs, obtaining multiple documents and certificates from various government agencies in Puerto Rico..., preparation of multiple powers of attorney...)—all done remotely since we do not live in Puerto Rico. He was efficient, precise, knowledgeable about the laws in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and the United States, and highly respectful of the matters he was handling; he treated us with respect and dignity. We will not hesitate to ask for his help again if we need it in the future.read moreread lessANA RODRIGUEZ08/04/2024
- Ramón Olivencia is the best notary attorney I know. I’ve known Ramón for many years, but I didn’t know him as an attorney until we recently bought a house. The sale required resolving some issues related to inheritance and the transfer of title. Ramón was the attorney who explained the process to me most clearly and answered questions that no other attorney was able to answer. I think what sets Ramón apart is that he’s always studying the law and is extremely organized. If he doesn’t know something, he knows exactly where to find the answer because of his constant research into legal matters. Thanks to Ramón, our process went more smoothly, and I felt confident that we were doing things right.read moreread lessCarla Tomassini08/04/2024
- My sister and I needed an attorney in Puerto Rico after the passing of our parents, who died within two months of each other. Because our parents did not leave a will, we had to navigate the legal process of being declared their heirs. We wanted an attorney who could handle the matter on our behalf without requiring us to travel to Puerto Rico. Ramón Olivencia, Esq., of Abogado Notario Online, provided exceptional legal services throughout the entire process. He was knowledgeable, professional, and responsive, and he made what could have been a complicated situation remarkably smooth and stress-free. Thanks to his guidance and expertise, the process was handled seamlessly from start to finish. We are very grateful for his assistance and highly recommend Ramon Olivencia and Abogado Notario Online anyone in need of legal services in Puerto Rico.read moreread lessTirson SantiagoJuly 27, 2026
- I have used Abogado Notario Online assistance in obtaining official government documents from Puerto Rico. This includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, declarations, apostilles, and even declarations regarding official church baptism and marriage certificates. In every case, the attorney fees have been clearly outlined upfront, with options for expedited delivery. This firm has handled each request with the utmost urgency. I have been working with attorneys worldwide in my line of work for the past 39 years, and I can say with confidence that this firm deserves my 5-star rating. They provide professional services for those seeking assistance from outside Puerto Rico. Unlike other law firms that demand excessive retainers before doing any work, this firm’s approach of clearly stating the cost per service is admirable. If you hire them, you will not be disappointed.read moreread lessRobert GarciaApril 25, 2026
- My father passed away at the end of last year, and even though he lived in Massachusetts, he owned property in Puerto Rico. Since I also live in Massachusetts, I was looking for a lawyer to represent me in Puerto Rico—someone who could handle all inheritance matters for me and minimize the need for me to travel to the island. Since I had previously worked with Ramon Olivencia at Abogado Notario Online on other legal matters, I reached out to him. Ramon immediately understood my needs and established an effective working relationship with me. He was available 7 days a week by phone, text, and email, and often responded to me at night or on the weekends. He promised that the estate and all related matters would be finalized before the start of the 2022 hurricane season. He beat that estimate by a month. Not once did I have to travel to the island for this matter. I highly recommend Ramon and am very pleased with his work.read moreread lessChago Perez-Kolk08/04/2023
