Title Clearing in Puerto Rico
Title clearing services delivered by our firm are uniquely tailored to the specifics of the Puerto Rico real estate system, which follows the Spanish civil law tradition rather than the common law system used across the mainland United States.
In short
- The core of Puerto Rico’s system of law comes from the Spanish tradition, and real estate transactions and title clearing are performed in accordance with it.
- We handle title clearing issues on a regular basis, either as a condition precedent to a closing or once a closing is held.
- Most of our clients have real estate experience elsewhere but are not familiar with Puerto Rico law, so a large part of our role is guiding them through it.
- Related work sits on our lien releases and property taxes pages, which often come up in the same transaction.
Why Puerto Rico title work is different
Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony for over 400 years, which accounts for Spanish being our main language and our customs significantly mirroring those followed across many areas of Spain. Since most Latin American countries were likewise Spanish colonies for hundreds of years, travellers find architectural and cultural similarities when visiting countries like Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba and Panama.
The core of our system of law comes from that Spanish tradition. Real estate transactions are performed following that tradition, and accordingly title clearing activities are also performed in accordance with it.
How we handle title clearing
At Nolla, Palou & Casellas, LLC we handle title clearing issues on a regular basis. Either as a condition precedent to a closing, or once a closing is held, our staff is trained and experienced in title clearing actions following the specific and unique requirements of Puerto Rico law.
Working with clients from outside Puerto Rico
One particular aspect of our overall practice is that most of our clients are not accustomed to working with Puerto Rico law. I am not referring to non-lawyers, but rather to individuals who have experience with real estate transactions in places other than Puerto Rico, and who may feel some apprehension about working under the Puerto Rico system of law. Accordingly, we are very well prepared to help such individuals navigate their real estate transactions with significant ease.
If you have questions, or if there are any concerns, confusions or doubts about how our system works and the manner in which you can perform a successful real estate transaction in Puerto Rico, give us a call or send us an email. We are sure we can help.
Common questions
Is title clearing in Puerto Rico the same as on the mainland?
No. The core of Puerto Rico’s system of law comes from the Spanish tradition, so real estate transactions, and title clearing with them, follow that tradition rather than the common law approach used in most of the United States.
Can title issues be cleared after a closing has already happened?
Yes. We handle title clearing either as a condition precedent to a closing or once a closing has been held.
I have bought property in other states but never in Puerto Rico. Is that a problem?
It is the most common situation we see. Most of our clients have real estate experience elsewhere and are simply unfamiliar with the Puerto Rico system, so guiding them through it is a routine part of the work.
How does title clearing relate to lien releases?
They overlap. In Puerto Rico, cancelling a lien is performed by a lawyer who is also a licensed notary, and that cancellation is often what clears the title. Our lien releases page covers that work.
Title question on a Puerto Rico property?
We practice in English and Spanish, across all of Puerto Rico.
