How to find the owner of an abandoned house in Puerto Rico
1. How can I find out who owns a property in Puerto Rico?
2. What happens if the owner has died?
3. What happens if the owner is a corporation or a limited liability company?
4. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a parcel number but not the owner's name?
5. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a "John Doe" as the owner?
1. How to find out who owns an abandoned property in Puerto Rico?
Two (2) ways: INTERNET and IN-PERSON
1. Do a WEB SITE Search at the Island Assessment Department. ‘Cadastre Digital GIS’ , secure the parcel ‘Catrasto number’, and if available get the estate (‘FINCA’) number and Book (‘TOMO’) and Page (‘FOLIO’) where recording made in one of the 29 Recorder of Deeds Offices (‘SECTION’).
· Follow up Island Assessment Department web site ‘Cadastre Digital’ search results with a search for Recorded Title at the property ‘Digital Recorders Office’ known as ‘KARIBE’. Search the jurisdiction of the property in question.
Or
2. Personally visit one of the ten (10) Assessment Offices (‘CRIM’ Municipal Revenue Collection Centers) located according to what municipality property corresponds. Research for the parcel identification number ‘Catrasto number’, and if available get the estate (‘FINCA’) number and Book (‘TOMO’) and Page (‘FOLIO’) where recording made in one of the 29 Recorder of Deeds Offices (‘SECTIONS’).
Follow up Assessment Department office search results with a search for Recorded Title at the appropriate jurisdiction of the property in question; municipality property are known as ‘SECTIONS’ in the 29 Recorder of Deeds Offices (‘SECTIONS’).
The Recorder of Deeds Office is a public office; anyone can visit any of its 29 sections, depending on the jurisdiction of the property in question. You can visit the Registry without a lawyer to request the registration of a document or obtain information about a property. The information held in the Land Registry—the deed to the property or real estate. Any citizen with a legitimate interest can request information from the Recorder of Deeds Office. A person has a legitimate interest when they wish to obtain information and their intentions are good. With documentation and/or information about the property ('PARCEL or CADASTRA' number) you can request a certified copy of the title at one of the 29 corresponding Property Registries according to property jurisdiction.Complete the application form. Pay the applicable fees. Wait for the request to be processed.
CRIM’ (Municipal Revenue Collection Center) is the Island Assessment Department. An agency responsible for the assessment, notification, collection, and distribution of property taxes (real and personal property) for all municipalities in Puerto Rico.
NOTE: 'HACIENDA' is the Islands Department of the Treasury not a Real Estate Assessment Department. It is the executive department of the central government responsible for state-level taxation, including income tax, sales and use tax (IVU); it is the general treasury of Puerto Rico. There are ten (10) Hacienda Offices and There are ten (10) Assessment Offices ‘CRIM’ Municipal Revenue Collection Centers. TREASURY | TAXPAYER SERVICE CENTERS (HERE) ON LINE 'HACIENDA' (HERE)
'CRIM' ('Island Assessment Department') keeps a copy of the latest property registration (recording) made at one of the 29 corresponding Property Registries. The copy includes:
Property information ( PARCEL or CADASTRAL number) ,
TOMO ('BOOK') and the FOLIO ('PAGE') where it is inscribed,
INSTRUMENT ('ESCRITURA') number, and
Property Number ('ESTATE').
There are ten (10) Assessment Offices (‘CRIM’ Municipal Revenue Collection Centers) located throughout Puerto Rico. If a significant discrepancy observed between a property's configuration on the map and its legal status, this may be due to parcels whose configuration predates the digitization of the cadastral map. The Digital Cadastre Office team continuously updates and corrects the cadastral map.
The ten (10) 'CRIM' Assessment Offices are available over the internet. 'CRIM' Digital Cadastre (ArcGIS; ESRI model) is an online computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays data related to properties in the 29 corresponding Property Registries. Currently, the Digital Cadastre contains more than one million properties. Under the direction of Ulises Feliciano Troche, the CRIM Digital Cadastre increased its productivity by approximately 300% through the use of ArcGIS and the development of internal applications, incorporating 65,000 new properties into the cadastral map; including segregations, groupings, and assigning cadastral numbers.
*The ability to look up Recorder of Deed information over the Internet began in 2015. It was call project 'Angora'. The new 'SQL' (Structured Query Language) code is 'KARIBE' and it is a work in progress. If any doubts surge in the process of looking up property remember that the physical registry takes precedence over the digital.
Using the property identifier ('PARCEL' or 'CADASTRAL' number), users can quickly search for a property and identify information about the property: 'TOMO' (BOOK) and the 'FOLIO' (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT ('ESCRITURA') number used, and Property Number ESTATE NUMBER ('FINCA') affected. All without needing to personally visit one of the 10 corresponding Municipal Revenue Collection Centers.
*If you do not have the cadastre number , CONVERT 'latitude and longitude' coordinates (Decimal Degrees (DD) of the property address) to degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS) and PLACE the DMS in the 'CRIM GIS' browser window at the top left.
USEFUL REFERENCES
1. On Line GIS PARCEL or CADASTRAL searh (HERE)
https://catastro.crimpr.net/cdprpc/
Search PARCEL or 'CADASTRAL' number, 'TOMO' (BOOK) and the 'FOLIO' (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT (‘ESCRITURA’) number. Property Number ‘FINCA’ ('ESTATE').
2. On Line GIS Real Estate Assessment Department (HERE)
https://portal.crim360.com/home/login)
Confirm Ownership. Search by PARCEL or CADASTRAL number, 'TOMO' (BOOK) and the 'FOLIO' (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT (‘ESCRITURA’) number. Property Number ‘FINCA’ ('ESTATE').
3. CRIM | TAXPAYER SERVICE CENTERS (HERE)
4. On Line Recorder of DEED (HERE). ‘Web Site’ ‘KARIBE’ (https://karibe.ridpr.pr.gov/)
a. 29 in person sections of of Recorder of Deeds (Land Registry) PDF HERE
Search for Real property and confirm PARCEL or CADASTRAL number, VOLUME (BOOK) and the FOLIO (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT (‘ESCRITURA’) number. Property Number ‘FINCA’ ('ESTATE'). Request copy of title, change of Ownership, Pay Taxes and other actions.
Central Office Department of Justice
4th Floor, Miramar, Puerto Rico
PO Box 9020192
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-0192
Telephone: 787-721-2900 Ext. 2432, 2433, 2434 and 2436
Fax: 787-977-6318
5. In Transit Documents and Recordings at Recorder of DEEDS- (HERE)
https://www.justicia1.pr.gov/ Search by means of the entry and journal (DIARY) assigned at the time of document presentation; or by means of the corresponding property number ('FINCA').
6. GIS Zoning and Planning Board - HERE (https://gis.jp.pr.gov/mipr/)
7. Puerto Rico Bar Association - HERE (https://capr.org/)
8. Puerto Rico Lawyers Directory - HERE (https://capr.org/) Single Registry of Lawyers RUA. The RUA ('Registro Único de Abogados y Abogadas') was created to centralize in a single database the information of persons authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law and serve as notaries public in Puerto Rico.
Real estate transfers in Puerto Rico are handled by attorneys (law firms), not title companies. Law firms act as trustees, holding all money or assets in safekeeping as a third party for the benefit of the parties involved in any transaction. In addition to safekeeping, the law firm handles:
Title summary,
Preparation of property transfer documents,
Notary seal,
Registration of real estate applications in one of the 29 sections of the Property Registry .
2. What happens if the owner has died?
If the owner has died, the heirs (the estate) are entitled to the property and must carry out a change of ownership at the corresponding CRIM office with a 'CRIM Change of Ownership Application'. Form 'AS-52'.
An estate is the sum of a person's assets and debts. If a will exists, the heirs are those named in it. If a person dies without a will, or if the will does not include all the heirs, a legal process begins to identify them. This process is known as probate in the United States (the matter is handled by the probate court). In Puerto Rico the end of the process is a ruling known as a 'RESOLUCION DE HEREDEROS' ("Declaration of Heirs") it identifies the heirs and accompanied with an 'INSTANCIA' (DEED) it presnted at the appropiate "RECORDER OF DEEDS" property registry.
In Puerto Rico, if you know the deceased's name (first, last, and middle name), you can check the status of a 'Declaration of Heirs'. If an estate is seeking "Resolution of Heirs" the process has a court case number assigned and it will be displayed on the Puerto Rico Judiciary website/Case Inquiry site. Visit: https://poderjudicial.pr/consulta-de-casos/
3. What happens if the owner is a corporation or a limited liability company?
If the owner of the deteriorated property is a corporation or partnership, visit the "Commercial Registry of the Secretary of State." The Department of State's registry is a free online tool that allows the public to search for corporations registered with the Puerto Rico Department of State.
The term "corporation" refers to all types of entities, including, but not limited to, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, etc., that must be registered with the Puerto Rico Department of State. In the United States, consult the online services of the Secretary of State of the state where you are seeking housing. Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, enter HERE: https://prcorpfiling.f1hst.com/CorporationSearch.aspx
4. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a parcel number but not the owner's name?
Generally, when a property in Puerto Rico displays a parcel number but not the owner's name, it means the parcel has not been subdivided or formally registered in the Property Registry as an independent property, or the records are outdated. This is a common situation that requires an official title search and collaboration with government entities.
If you have already searched the Municipal Revenue Collection Centre (CRIM) to identify the property and have used the online CRIM portal (https://catastro.crimpr.net/cdprpc/), and have searched by parcel number (also known as cadastral number) to look for tax records and have checked if there is a name associated with the property for tax purposes and the search is not conclusive, request a formal "Title Search" through one of the relevant Deed Registration Offices ( 29 sections of the Property Registry ).
It is a complex legal process:
• Locating the original parcel plan: In many cases, an undeclared parcel (PLAT) is a smaller subdivision of a larger, previously registered property. (An attorney can search the original parcel (PLAT) history to find information about the subdivision and the original deed.)
• Deed Inquiry: The original segregation deed, executed by a notary public, would reflect the transfer of ownership. (A notary public can locate the notary public who executed the original segregation deed and obtain a copy of the deed from the file.)
A local real estate attorney can conduct a title search, obtain the necessary documentation, and represent you in court if needed. Consider consulting with legal aid groups. Organizations and legal aid services like https://ayudalegalpr.org/ offer free advice for complex cases, such as inheritance disputes or unclear property titles.
5. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a "John Doe" as the owner?
When a property in Puerto Rico appears under an unknown name ("John Doe") or similar in the property registry or tax records, this indicates:
a) Property "without title" or the property may not be properly registered or the records may be very outdated.
b) Unknown heirs: "John Doe" represents the heirs of a deceased person; without a formal declaration of heirs, the Registry cannot include their names.
c) CRIM vs. Registry: The Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM) may list a name, but this may not match the legal owner in the Registry, the only registry that matters for actual ownership.
Disputes over ownership, delays in government administrative procedures, and municipal actions can result in a plot of land having a "John Doe" (unidentified person).
This situation typically arises when ownership was never formally transferred. It allows municipalities to take possession of the property if it is considered abandoned and the corresponding taxes have not been paid. The name "John Doe" is especially associated with a "Parcel Identification" that does not reflect the information in the Land Registry; the deed to the property or building always takes precedence.
Regarding this matter, the executive director of CRIM, Javier García Cintrón, explained that "...those structures that are visually located in the CRIM's digital cadastre, but which do not have a specific owner in the land registry, will be identified as 'John Doe' ..." " Thus, we can see structures that may belong to the government, municipalities, schools, universities, and many other properties, whose owners could be estates, for example, and the original owner never carried out any procedures with CRIM." Editorial Staff, EL VOCERO, 01/20/2026 "Fewer years of retroactive collection at CRIM"
It is common to find outdated records. Many records, especially at the CRIM (Property Registry Center), may be outdated or incomplete. The Property Registry is the definitive source for formal proof of ownership.
In Puerto Rico, property registration is technically optional; however, failing to do so increases asset risk and complicates future transactions. Properties with unregistered or unclear titles generally cannot be used as collateral for traditional bank loans.
2. What happens if the owner has died?
3. What happens if the owner is a corporation or a limited liability company?
4. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a parcel number but not the owner's name?
5. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a "John Doe" as the owner?
1. How to find out who owns an abandoned property in Puerto Rico?
Two (2) ways: INTERNET and IN-PERSON
1. Do a WEB SITE Search at the Island Assessment Department. ‘Cadastre Digital GIS’ , secure the parcel ‘Catrasto number’, and if available get the estate (‘FINCA’) number and Book (‘TOMO’) and Page (‘FOLIO’) where recording made in one of the 29 Recorder of Deeds Offices (‘SECTION’).
· Follow up Island Assessment Department web site ‘Cadastre Digital’ search results with a search for Recorded Title at the property ‘Digital Recorders Office’ known as ‘KARIBE’. Search the jurisdiction of the property in question.
Or
2. Personally visit one of the ten (10) Assessment Offices (‘CRIM’ Municipal Revenue Collection Centers) located according to what municipality property corresponds. Research for the parcel identification number ‘Catrasto number’, and if available get the estate (‘FINCA’) number and Book (‘TOMO’) and Page (‘FOLIO’) where recording made in one of the 29 Recorder of Deeds Offices (‘SECTIONS’).
Follow up Assessment Department office search results with a search for Recorded Title at the appropriate jurisdiction of the property in question; municipality property are known as ‘SECTIONS’ in the 29 Recorder of Deeds Offices (‘SECTIONS’).
The Recorder of Deeds Office is a public office; anyone can visit any of its 29 sections, depending on the jurisdiction of the property in question. You can visit the Registry without a lawyer to request the registration of a document or obtain information about a property. The information held in the Land Registry—the deed to the property or real estate. Any citizen with a legitimate interest can request information from the Recorder of Deeds Office. A person has a legitimate interest when they wish to obtain information and their intentions are good. With documentation and/or information about the property ('PARCEL or CADASTRA' number) you can request a certified copy of the title at one of the 29 corresponding Property Registries according to property jurisdiction.Complete the application form. Pay the applicable fees. Wait for the request to be processed.
CRIM’ (Municipal Revenue Collection Center) is the Island Assessment Department. An agency responsible for the assessment, notification, collection, and distribution of property taxes (real and personal property) for all municipalities in Puerto Rico.
NOTE: 'HACIENDA' is the Islands Department of the Treasury not a Real Estate Assessment Department. It is the executive department of the central government responsible for state-level taxation, including income tax, sales and use tax (IVU); it is the general treasury of Puerto Rico. There are ten (10) Hacienda Offices and There are ten (10) Assessment Offices ‘CRIM’ Municipal Revenue Collection Centers. TREASURY | TAXPAYER SERVICE CENTERS (HERE) ON LINE 'HACIENDA' (HERE)
'CRIM' ('Island Assessment Department') keeps a copy of the latest property registration (recording) made at one of the 29 corresponding Property Registries. The copy includes:
Property information ( PARCEL or CADASTRAL number) ,
TOMO ('BOOK') and the FOLIO ('PAGE') where it is inscribed,
INSTRUMENT ('ESCRITURA') number, and
Property Number ('ESTATE').
There are ten (10) Assessment Offices (‘CRIM’ Municipal Revenue Collection Centers) located throughout Puerto Rico. If a significant discrepancy observed between a property's configuration on the map and its legal status, this may be due to parcels whose configuration predates the digitization of the cadastral map. The Digital Cadastre Office team continuously updates and corrects the cadastral map.
The ten (10) 'CRIM' Assessment Offices are available over the internet. 'CRIM' Digital Cadastre (ArcGIS; ESRI model) is an online computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays data related to properties in the 29 corresponding Property Registries. Currently, the Digital Cadastre contains more than one million properties. Under the direction of Ulises Feliciano Troche, the CRIM Digital Cadastre increased its productivity by approximately 300% through the use of ArcGIS and the development of internal applications, incorporating 65,000 new properties into the cadastral map; including segregations, groupings, and assigning cadastral numbers.
*The ability to look up Recorder of Deed information over the Internet began in 2015. It was call project 'Angora'. The new 'SQL' (Structured Query Language) code is 'KARIBE' and it is a work in progress. If any doubts surge in the process of looking up property remember that the physical registry takes precedence over the digital.
Using the property identifier ('PARCEL' or 'CADASTRAL' number), users can quickly search for a property and identify information about the property: 'TOMO' (BOOK) and the 'FOLIO' (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT ('ESCRITURA') number used, and Property Number ESTATE NUMBER ('FINCA') affected. All without needing to personally visit one of the 10 corresponding Municipal Revenue Collection Centers.
*If you do not have the cadastre number , CONVERT 'latitude and longitude' coordinates (Decimal Degrees (DD) of the property address) to degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS) and PLACE the DMS in the 'CRIM GIS' browser window at the top left.
USEFUL REFERENCES
1. On Line GIS PARCEL or CADASTRAL searh (HERE)
https://catastro.crimpr.net/cdprpc/
Search PARCEL or 'CADASTRAL' number, 'TOMO' (BOOK) and the 'FOLIO' (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT (‘ESCRITURA’) number. Property Number ‘FINCA’ ('ESTATE').
2. On Line GIS Real Estate Assessment Department (HERE)
https://portal.crim360.com/home/login)
Confirm Ownership. Search by PARCEL or CADASTRAL number, 'TOMO' (BOOK) and the 'FOLIO' (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT (‘ESCRITURA’) number. Property Number ‘FINCA’ ('ESTATE').
3. CRIM | TAXPAYER SERVICE CENTERS (HERE)
4. On Line Recorder of DEED (HERE). ‘Web Site’ ‘KARIBE’ (https://karibe.ridpr.pr.gov/)
a. 29 in person sections of of Recorder of Deeds (Land Registry) PDF HERE
Search for Real property and confirm PARCEL or CADASTRAL number, VOLUME (BOOK) and the FOLIO (PAGE) where it is inscribed, INSTRUMENT (‘ESCRITURA’) number. Property Number ‘FINCA’ ('ESTATE'). Request copy of title, change of Ownership, Pay Taxes and other actions.
Central Office Department of Justice
4th Floor, Miramar, Puerto Rico
PO Box 9020192
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-0192
Telephone: 787-721-2900 Ext. 2432, 2433, 2434 and 2436
Fax: 787-977-6318
5. In Transit Documents and Recordings at Recorder of DEEDS- (HERE)
https://www.justicia1.pr.gov/ Search by means of the entry and journal (DIARY) assigned at the time of document presentation; or by means of the corresponding property number ('FINCA').
6. GIS Zoning and Planning Board - HERE (https://gis.jp.pr.gov/mipr/)
7. Puerto Rico Bar Association - HERE (https://capr.org/)
8. Puerto Rico Lawyers Directory - HERE (https://capr.org/) Single Registry of Lawyers RUA. The RUA ('Registro Único de Abogados y Abogadas') was created to centralize in a single database the information of persons authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law and serve as notaries public in Puerto Rico.
Real estate transfers in Puerto Rico are handled by attorneys (law firms), not title companies. Law firms act as trustees, holding all money or assets in safekeeping as a third party for the benefit of the parties involved in any transaction. In addition to safekeeping, the law firm handles:
Title summary,
Preparation of property transfer documents,
Notary seal,
Registration of real estate applications in one of the 29 sections of the Property Registry .
2. What happens if the owner has died?
If the owner has died, the heirs (the estate) are entitled to the property and must carry out a change of ownership at the corresponding CRIM office with a 'CRIM Change of Ownership Application'. Form 'AS-52'.
An estate is the sum of a person's assets and debts. If a will exists, the heirs are those named in it. If a person dies without a will, or if the will does not include all the heirs, a legal process begins to identify them. This process is known as probate in the United States (the matter is handled by the probate court). In Puerto Rico the end of the process is a ruling known as a 'RESOLUCION DE HEREDEROS' ("Declaration of Heirs") it identifies the heirs and accompanied with an 'INSTANCIA' (DEED) it presnted at the appropiate "RECORDER OF DEEDS" property registry.
In Puerto Rico, if you know the deceased's name (first, last, and middle name), you can check the status of a 'Declaration of Heirs'. If an estate is seeking "Resolution of Heirs" the process has a court case number assigned and it will be displayed on the Puerto Rico Judiciary website/Case Inquiry site. Visit: https://poderjudicial.pr/consulta-de-casos/
3. What happens if the owner is a corporation or a limited liability company?
If the owner of the deteriorated property is a corporation or partnership, visit the "Commercial Registry of the Secretary of State." The Department of State's registry is a free online tool that allows the public to search for corporations registered with the Puerto Rico Department of State.
The term "corporation" refers to all types of entities, including, but not limited to, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, etc., that must be registered with the Puerto Rico Department of State. In the United States, consult the online services of the Secretary of State of the state where you are seeking housing. Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, enter HERE: https://prcorpfiling.f1hst.com/CorporationSearch.aspx
4. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a parcel number but not the owner's name?
Generally, when a property in Puerto Rico displays a parcel number but not the owner's name, it means the parcel has not been subdivided or formally registered in the Property Registry as an independent property, or the records are outdated. This is a common situation that requires an official title search and collaboration with government entities.
If you have already searched the Municipal Revenue Collection Centre (CRIM) to identify the property and have used the online CRIM portal (https://catastro.crimpr.net/cdprpc/), and have searched by parcel number (also known as cadastral number) to look for tax records and have checked if there is a name associated with the property for tax purposes and the search is not conclusive, request a formal "Title Search" through one of the relevant Deed Registration Offices ( 29 sections of the Property Registry ).
It is a complex legal process:
• Locating the original parcel plan: In many cases, an undeclared parcel (PLAT) is a smaller subdivision of a larger, previously registered property. (An attorney can search the original parcel (PLAT) history to find information about the subdivision and the original deed.)
• Deed Inquiry: The original segregation deed, executed by a notary public, would reflect the transfer of ownership. (A notary public can locate the notary public who executed the original segregation deed and obtain a copy of the deed from the file.)
A local real estate attorney can conduct a title search, obtain the necessary documentation, and represent you in court if needed. Consider consulting with legal aid groups. Organizations and legal aid services like https://ayudalegalpr.org/ offer free advice for complex cases, such as inheritance disputes or unclear property titles.
5. What happens when a property in Puerto Rico shows a "John Doe" as the owner?
When a property in Puerto Rico appears under an unknown name ("John Doe") or similar in the property registry or tax records, this indicates:
a) Property "without title" or the property may not be properly registered or the records may be very outdated.
b) Unknown heirs: "John Doe" represents the heirs of a deceased person; without a formal declaration of heirs, the Registry cannot include their names.
c) CRIM vs. Registry: The Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM) may list a name, but this may not match the legal owner in the Registry, the only registry that matters for actual ownership.
Disputes over ownership, delays in government administrative procedures, and municipal actions can result in a plot of land having a "John Doe" (unidentified person).
This situation typically arises when ownership was never formally transferred. It allows municipalities to take possession of the property if it is considered abandoned and the corresponding taxes have not been paid. The name "John Doe" is especially associated with a "Parcel Identification" that does not reflect the information in the Land Registry; the deed to the property or building always takes precedence.
Regarding this matter, the executive director of CRIM, Javier García Cintrón, explained that "...those structures that are visually located in the CRIM's digital cadastre, but which do not have a specific owner in the land registry, will be identified as 'John Doe' ..." " Thus, we can see structures that may belong to the government, municipalities, schools, universities, and many other properties, whose owners could be estates, for example, and the original owner never carried out any procedures with CRIM." Editorial Staff, EL VOCERO, 01/20/2026 "Fewer years of retroactive collection at CRIM"
It is common to find outdated records. Many records, especially at the CRIM (Property Registry Center), may be outdated or incomplete. The Property Registry is the definitive source for formal proof of ownership.
In Puerto Rico, property registration is technically optional; however, failing to do so increases asset risk and complicates future transactions. Properties with unregistered or unclear titles generally cannot be used as collateral for traditional bank loans.
