Inherited property in Puerto Rico
Sell an inherited house in Puerto Rico from anywhere. We handle the succession.
If the house is still in the name of a parent or grandparent who passed away, it cannot be sold until the Puerto Rico succession is complete. We buy inherited houses for cash, as-is, and coordinate the declaratoria de herederos, the Hacienda relevo and the Property Registry with a licensed attorney-notary on the island. No commissions. You do not have to fly down.
Written offer in 24 hours. Closing in 45 to 60 days, or as soon as the succession allows.
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Can you sell an inherited house in Puerto Rico without a declaratoria de herederos?
No, if the person died without a will. The declaratoria de herederos is the court ruling that names the heirs. Without it, neither the Property Registry nor Hacienda (the Puerto Rico Treasury) recognizes who has the right to sell. If there was a valid will, that document serves the same purpose. We check which one applies to your case before making the offer.
What most people do not know: the declaratoria alone is not enough. After it comes the Hacienda relevo, and after that the recording in the Registry. Three steps, not one. That is why so many inherited houses sit unsold for years: every step has its own line, stamp and document.
What is the Hacienda relevo and why do you need it to sell?
The relevo, or estate-tax clearance (Certificación de Gravamen), is the document Hacienda issues after reviewing the Planilla de Caudal Relicto, the estate return. Without the relevo, heirs cannot sell, refinance or record the property in their name. Puerto Rico courts have confirmed it: a sale without the relevo is not valid.
Facts to have on hand:
- The estate return is due within 9 months of the death. If that date has passed, it can still be filed late; we tell you what to expect.
- A 3-month extension (6 if you live outside Puerto Rico) can be requested with form SC 2777.
- Since December 2018 everything is filed through SURI, Hacienda's online system.
- Hacienda requires a CRIM certificate (the municipal property-tax office) showing no property taxes are owed. If there is a balance, it has to be settled or a conditional relevo requested.
The 6 steps to sell an inherited house, and what we do at each one
- 1
Confirm who inherits
Death certificate, the will if there is one, or the declaratoria de herederos from the court.
We: We coordinate with the attorney-notary and advance the costs once a purchase agreement is signed.
- 2
Gather the certificates
CRIM with no balance, Hacienda with no debt from the deceased, and the Internal Revenue stamp.
We: We pull the CRIM and Hacienda certifications; you sign what is needed.
- 3
File the estate return (Planilla de Caudal Relicto) in SURI
The estate return listing the deceased's assets.
We: The attorney prepares it; if CRIM is owed, we request a conditional relevo.
- 4
Receive the Hacienda relevo
The estate-tax clearance that authorizes the sale.
We: We follow up on it. This is the step where most people get stuck.
- 5
Record the heirs in the Property Registry
The Registry recognizes the heirs as owners.
We: The notary files the deed or petition; the Registry reviews it.
- 6
Sign the sale and receive your money
Closing before a notary with certified funds.
We: We close with a licensed notary, no commissions, no hidden costs.
If there are several heirs
When the house belongs to several siblings or cousins, everyone has to sign, or one person needs a power of attorney from the rest. If someone lives off the island, they sign an authenticated power of attorney. If someone refuses to sell, the law allows asking the court to order the sale and split the money, but that takes time. If one heir is a minor, the court has to authorize the sale and the minor's share is deposited with the court.
What we do: we talk to each heir separately if needed, in Spanish or English, and prepare one agreement that says what each person receives. Nobody signs anything until everyone understands the numbers.
If you live outside Puerto Rico
Almost everything can be done from the mainland with a power of attorney. What you need to know:
- If you are not a Puerto Rico resident, the buyer is required to withhold 15% of the sale price and deposit it with Hacienda. That money can be recovered if you had no gain, with a request to Hacienda after closing.
- The power of attorney is signed before a notary in your state and authenticated with an apostille for use in Puerto Rico.
- We send everything by email and coordinate the final signing with a notary on the island. You do not have to travel unless you want to.
CRIM, water, power and mortgage debt
Inherited houses almost always carry something: unpaid CRIM property taxes, a closed water account, a loan that was never paid off. None of that stops the sale. It is paid out of the price at closing. What does stop the sale is not knowing how much is owed, because Hacienda will not issue the relevo without the CRIM certification. We pull the statements before the offer so the number you see is the real number.
What we do and what we do not
| We do | We do not |
|---|---|
| We buy for cash, as-is, no repairs or cleanup | We are not attorneys and do not give legal advice; the attorney-notary signs |
| We coordinate the declaratoria, estate return, relevo and Registry with the attorney | We charge no commission and no fee for the paperwork |
| We advance succession costs once a purchase agreement is signed | We do not pressure you: the offer is good for 7 days and you can decline |
| We pay CRIM and other debts out of the price at closing | We do not promise a closing date the succession will not allow |
| We talk to every heir, in Spanish or English | We do not publish invented testimonials or house counts |
How long it takes and what it costs
Time: if the declaratoria and the relevo already exist, we close in 45 to 60 days. If they do not, the full process usually takes several months and depends on the court, Hacienda and the Registry, not on us. We give you an estimated date in writing and tell you every time it changes.
Cost: succession costs (attorney, stamps, Registry fees, estate tax if it applies) exist with or without us. When we buy the house, we advance them and they are deducted from the price at closing, itemized on paper. We do not publish fixed figures on this page because every case is different; we give them to you in writing for your case.
Different situation? We buy these houses too
Inheritance is the most common reason, but not the only one. If you see yourself in one of these, fill out the same form and tell us which.
Abandoned or vacant house
Closed up for years, overgrown, no water or power, or someone is using it without permission. We buy it without you having to clean it or remove anything. We only need to know whose name it is in.
Behind on the mortgage or already in foreclosure
If the bank is sending letters, has filed the lawsuit, or you have an auction (subasta) date, there is still time to sell. A cash sale before the auction pays the debt, protects your credit and leaves you whatever is left. The earlier you call, the more options there are.
CRIM debt or a lapsed payment plan
You owe years of property taxes and cannot sell the normal way. We pull the statement, pay it out of the price at closing, and request a conditional relevo if needed.
Hurricane damage, no insurance, or an open FEMA claim
Roof, leaks, walls. We buy the house as it stands. If there is an open claim, the attorney-notary handles it at closing; we do not ask you to resolve it first.
House that will not qualify for a loan
Unfinished construction, no use permit, unpermitted additions, exposed columns, half a house. A bank will not finance it; we buy it because we pay cash.
Property never recorded in the Registry
The house has been your family's forever but was never registered, or it is in the name of someone long gone. With the attorney-notary we see whether an expediente de dominio or usucapión applies, and we buy once the title is clear.
You are moving to the States
You have a flight date and no months to wait for a buyer with a loan. Offer in 24 hours, closing in 45 to 60 days, and if you have already left, you sign by power of attorney.
Tired of being a landlord
Tenant who does not pay, a failed Section 8 inspection, or someone who will not leave. We buy with the tenant in place and handle it after closing.
Divorce or separation
One stays, the other needs their share, or neither wants the house. We pay cash and the money is split at closing according to the agreement.
Aging parents moving in with their children
Selling now, while the owner is alive and can sign, saves the children from the succession later. It is the easy version of inheritance.
Lot or land with debt or unclear boundaries
We buy land too. We verify CRIM, the lot size and the catastro number before the offer.
Apartment with unpaid maintenance fees
Debt to the condo board blocks a normal sale. It is paid out of the price at closing.
Frequently asked questions about inherited houses
Let's talk about the house
Tell us the town, whose name it is in, and how many heirs there are. We reply the same business day.
Sources
- Puerto Rico Treasury: estate return (Planilla de Caudal Relicto)
- Puerto Rico Treasury: steps to request the relevo
- Puerto Rico Treasury: documents filed with the estate return
- Puerto Rico Treasury: requirements for non-resident sellers (withholding)
- Court of Appeals, KLAN202301023 (2024): sale without the relevo is not valid
- Court of Appeals, KLCE202400690 (2024): what the declaratoria proves
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Last reviewed: October 15, 2026.