Inheriting a home or land in Puerto Rico can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re living off-island or unfamiliar with the legal process.
You may be wondering:
Can I sell the property right away?
What if the title isn’t in my name yet?
What taxes do I need to pay?
How do I even start?
Whether you're ready to sell or still figuring it all out, this guide will walk you through the process and show how Puerto Rico Real Estate, PSC can make it simpler, smoother, and more successful.
When someone passes away in Puerto Rico, any real estate they owned becomes part of their estate and may need to go through the probate process (sucesión) before being legally transferred to the heirs.
Probate is a legal procedure that confirms the identity of the heirs and allows property ownership to be transferred. This includes:
Identifying the rightful heirs
Filing the necessary legal paperwork
Having a notary prepare the Acta de Notoriedad
Registering the property in the name of the new heirs
Paying any applicable taxes
Until this is completed, you may not be able to sell the property legally.
You inherited a property from a parent or grandparent
The home is still in the name of a deceased family member
Multiple heirs are involved and don’t agree on what to do
The property hasn’t been registered or lacks documentation
You live off-island and can’t handle things in person
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. These situations are more common than you think—and we can help resolve them step by step.
Work with a notary to create a declaration of heirs (Declaratoria de Herederos or Acta de Notoriedad). This identifies who legally owns the property.
Once heirs are confirmed, the property must be transferred into their names and registered at the Puerto Rico Property Registry.
Update ownership in CRIM (property tax authority) and transfer utilities like water and electricity into the correct names.
Once the title is clear and shared among all heirs, the property can legally be listed and sold. If all heirs agree to sell, a power of attorney can simplify things.
This is where Puerto Rico Real Estate, PSC comes in. We handle the professional photography, video, MLS listing, buyer coordination, and all the logistics—especially if you’re off-island.
We coordinate with attorneys, appraisers, surveyors, buyers, and CRIM to ensure a smooth and successful closing day.
Trying to sell inherited property without going through the legal process can backfire. Risks include:
Title not being transferable
Buyer’s bank rejecting the transaction
Delays that scare away buyers
Potential legal disputes among heirs
At Puerto Rico Real Estate, PSC, we make sure everything is in order before your property goes on the market.
Here’s what you get when you choose us:
We work directly with local attorneys and notaries to guide you through inheritance paperwork, title clearance, and registry filings.
Live in the U.S. or abroad? No problem. We handle everything locally and keep you informed at every stage.
We understand that selling a loved one’s home is emotional. We’re patient, transparent, and sensitive to your timeline and needs.
We run a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help you price the home competitively—without overpricing or underselling.
Your listing will include:
Drone photography
Video walkthrough
MLS exposure
Facebook/Instagram campaigns
YouTube features
Email marketing to buyer networks
From coordinating the CRIM certificate to bank appraisals and buyer requests, we handle every step until the keys are handed over.
"Puerto Rico Real Estate, PSC helped my sisters and me sell our parents’ home in Mayagüez. We were overwhelmed with the paperwork, but they guided us from the notarized declaration to closing—and we never had to fly down. Truly a team you can trust."
– Carlos G., Seller from Orlando
Selling an inherited property may include:
Capital gains tax (if the sale value is higher than inherited value)
CRIM clearance certificate
Registry and notary fees
Legal fees for the declaration of heirs
We connect you with CPAs and attorneys who can explain your specific situation in detail.
| Step | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|
| Declaración de herederos | 3–6 weeks |
| Transfer of title & registration | 4–8 weeks |
| Listing & sale process | 30–90 days |
| Closing | 30–45 days |
| Total time (avg.) | 3–6 months |
This timeline varies based on how prepared you are—and that’s exactly why starting now is key.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Whether you’re one of several heirs, unsure about the legal process, or simply want a trusted local expert to handle everything for you, Puerto Rico Real Estate, PSC is ready to help.
📞 787.244.6364
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.ThePuertoRicoRealEstate.com
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Your satisfaction guides our every step. Thanks for choosing PRRE. View all.
"Thank you for your service great teamwork I completely appreciate your time and all your effort thanks again"
You were so much help. Thank you for staying on top of things with me.
The closing was straightforward and completed without incident. The buyers were wonderful. Thank you.
The closing was straightforward and completed without incident. The buyers were wonderful. Thank you
I received your listing in email and just wanted to thank you for the EXCELLENT information. You included not only the correct location, but good, quality video/photos, everything. It's not exactly what I need but: A rare thing to get such a quality listing information, just wanted to say thank you.
Everything went smooth and great at closing, you were such a great help in the process. I will refer you to a friend that needs your help. Thanks alot for all you did for me.
Thanks to all of you, super attention, you explained everything very kindly and the Lcda was also super kind. All excellent more than grateful for everything!!
Everything super good, they treated us very well and everything went well with the closing. Everyone was very nice and the Lcda was very kind to us. Thanks to you and your team who treated us very well and never let us go. I will recommend you and hope to call you soon to find a property.
Closing Done, only took an hour.No problems it went smooth. Thanks again for everything! Having a drink to celebrate.
Very Smooth Transaction. Your Team was very supportive and they helped me alot during the transaction.
