L
LEXXROMAN
Guest
- Jurisdiction
- Puerto Rico
Hello Everyone,
I am a third-generation heir to my great-grandfather's (d.1986) estate containing of 2, maybe 3, Puerto Rico properties (1 residential/ [possibly] 2 land). He was married at the time, however my great-grandmother (d.2008) as well has passed. She did not have any properties/entities in her name. When my great-grandfather died, he left with a verbal will (irrelevant, I know) to his then living wife that she can keep his money, but my mother would get the house. After the funeral my grandmother took my mother to live in the states and my great-grandmother lived in the house alone a.d. Now, as she got older and her health/state-of-mind started to deteriorate, we had close family watch over here. Well, eventually they took her out of the home and put her in a nursing home somewhere in PR until she died in 2008. We have not had any contact with them since maybe 2010..? So we know for a fact that when they took my great-grandmother out, they moved an immediate family member of their own, (someone related to us, but not approved to live there). We have heard she still lives there from within the last 2 years. All properties were paid off in full by my great-grandfather and I believe we have the stub book to prove that.
Overall, my great-grandparents are survived my grandmother, who is the only child but is also disabled. She cannot travel and therefore has asked my mother (second-gen. heir, also an only child) and I to take over Power of Attorney to help claim the estates administration of my great-grandfather.
Now, here's the sitch: my grandmother lives off of SSI and has not had any funding to hire a lawyer to help in the probate process. My mother and I are single with our own expenses, so there isn't much (extra) money lying around. We do have a need to get this over with and not worry or drag it out any longer. We have been told that we can create a will (with notary/lawyer) including all forced heirs, (really, it's just my grandma) from FL and PR will honor it; is this true?
I'm not really sure where to start and I'm really looking for anyone who can give me an outline/guideline on what to do and where to start.
Additional Questions:
I am a third-generation heir to my great-grandfather's (d.1986) estate containing of 2, maybe 3, Puerto Rico properties (1 residential/ [possibly] 2 land). He was married at the time, however my great-grandmother (d.2008) as well has passed. She did not have any properties/entities in her name. When my great-grandfather died, he left with a verbal will (irrelevant, I know) to his then living wife that she can keep his money, but my mother would get the house. After the funeral my grandmother took my mother to live in the states and my great-grandmother lived in the house alone a.d. Now, as she got older and her health/state-of-mind started to deteriorate, we had close family watch over here. Well, eventually they took her out of the home and put her in a nursing home somewhere in PR until she died in 2008. We have not had any contact with them since maybe 2010..? So we know for a fact that when they took my great-grandmother out, they moved an immediate family member of their own, (someone related to us, but not approved to live there). We have heard she still lives there from within the last 2 years. All properties were paid off in full by my great-grandfather and I believe we have the stub book to prove that.
Overall, my great-grandparents are survived my grandmother, who is the only child but is also disabled. She cannot travel and therefore has asked my mother (second-gen. heir, also an only child) and I to take over Power of Attorney to help claim the estates administration of my great-grandfather.
Now, here's the sitch: my grandmother lives off of SSI and has not had any funding to hire a lawyer to help in the probate process. My mother and I are single with our own expenses, so there isn't much (extra) money lying around. We do have a need to get this over with and not worry or drag it out any longer. We have been told that we can create a will (with notary/lawyer) including all forced heirs, (really, it's just my grandma) from FL and PR will honor it; is this true?
I'm not really sure where to start and I'm really looking for anyone who can give me an outline/guideline on what to do and where to start.
Additional Questions:
- Does Puerto Rico have a statute of limitations for a forced heir to claim an inheritance? And, what are the key steps to handling a case like this?
- Is there anything we can do from where we live (Tampa, FL) without contracting the legal services of a Probate Lawyer?
- Is POA considered suitable representative for thr PR Probate Court?
- Also, If I am her representative and I have the flexibility to take days and possibly travel, should I expect to be out long/frequently? I know the process can be long but how involved does one have to be as far what is required by PR court? Can my mom and I, say "tag-team", and both be reps? I know I'm asking a lot but thank you again for any help you can offer
