Forced share and free portion
The half reserved for forced heirs and the part you can leave to anyone.
Inheritance in Puerto Rico
What happens to a loved one's property, explained calmly.
Who inherits, what to do with the will, Hacienda's estate return and relevo, the bank, the house and the Property Registry. 41 guides checked against the 2020 Civil Code and official sources, in plain language.
Browse by topic
From the basics to dividing the estate and planning your own.
The path of an estate, in five steps
Most inheritances in Puerto Rico follow this order. Each step links to a full guide.
- 1Find out whether there is a willAsk ODIN for a will certificate.
- 2Identify the heirsWith the will, or with a declaration of heirs.
- 3File the estate returnForm SC 2800 C in SURI, within 12 months.
- 4Get Hacienda's relevoIt lifts the lien on the estate's property.
- 5Divide and recordPartition, the Property Registry and the CRIM.
Who inherits without a will?
Enter the family situation and the value of the estate to see each heir's share under the 2020 Civil Code, after the surviving spouse's community-property half.
Deadlines after a death
Key due dates from the date of death: CRIM, Hacienda, Social Security and more.
Funds without the relevo
How much a bank or insurer may release before Hacienda's lien release.
Most read guides
What families look up most when they have to settle an estate.
Who inherits
Who Inherits Without a Will in Puerto Rico
If your loved one died without a will, the Civil Code decides who inherits and in what proportion. Here we explain the order, with examples worked out step by step.
The process
Declaration of Heirs (Declaratoria de Herederos) in Puerto Rico
When a person dies without a will, the declaration of heirs officially states who inherits. It can be done before a notary or in court, and here we explain both routes.
The process
Hacienda Lien Release (Relevo) for an Estate in Puerto Rico
Hacienda's relevo cancels the lien on the deceased's property. Without it you cannot sell, divide or collect all the money. Here is how to get it in SURI.
Special cases
How to Sell an Inherited House in Puerto Rico
To sell the family house you need the estate paperwork, Hacienda's lien release and every heir's signature. Understand the tax basis, too, before you set a price.
Who inherits
Rights of the Surviving Spouse in Puerto Rico
A widow or widower keeps their half of the community property, inherits a share equal to each child's and can ask to keep the family home. We explain each right.
Special cases
Heirs Living Outside Puerto Rico: Handling It From Afar
If you inherit in Puerto Rico but live in the U.S. or another country, you can do almost everything remotely with a good power of attorney, SURI and some planning.
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Common questions
How we work
Every guide is checked against the official text of Puerto Rico's 2020 Civil Code, the Internal Revenue Code, the Notarial Act and the publications of Hacienda, the courts and the CRIM, and lists its sources.
CaudalRelicto.com is an independent guide, not a government agency, and its pages are not legal advice.