Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Puerto Rico

Laws concerning right to land
My Grandmother who passed on was given land by her father approximately 60 years or more ago in Puerto Rico.He owned a lot of land and just divided it and gave it to all his kids including my grandmother.My mother and aunt survived my grandmother.The house has been with the family the whole time but there is no original land papers or will passing it on to my mom or aunt.Is the house automaticaly theirs by years of residence or must some paperwork be done for this process?The reason I ask is because there is a group consisting of one of my grandmother's sisters and her family trying to be greedy even though they own their own inherited land trying to claim thier part in our land.We don't want to go to court but we might have to, in order to defend what is rightfully ours.Is their a law of automatic ownership by years of residence?

Asked on 2/03/07, 10:57 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Julio C. Alejandro Julio C. Alejandro Serrano Attorney at Law

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Re: Laws concerning right to land

You may have to initiate a process called an "Expediente de Dominio" which declares that the property is yours because of the two reasons that you indicated. This proceeding is usually non-adversary but it may turn contentious if one of the individuals who needs to be notified objects. Your grandmother's sister may have to be notified.

JCAS.

Answered on 2/07/07, 8:42 am

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