How to transfer a vehicle from an owner who has died

When a vehicle’s registered owner dies, the vehicle becomes part of their estate, and CESCO cannot change the registration until it is clear who inherits and who accepts the vehicle. That is why this process spans three worlds: the court, which issues or stamps the declaration of heirs; Hacienda, which the Estate Assets Certification comes from; and CESCO, which records the change. Understanding that order is half the work, because the slow part happens before you reach the window.

It applies to the heirs of the deceased. CESCO contemplates two scenarios in the sworn statement: a sole heir accepting rights to the unit, or several heirs assigning their rights and a new owner — who may be one of them — accepting them. If there is neither a will nor a declaration of heirs, CESCO states expressly that you must go to the court. Two conditions change the list: if any heir is a minor, the vehicle’s value and the legal guardian’s signature must be included, and if that value exceeds $2,000 a court order authorising the transfer is required, plus a copy of the minor’s birth certificate.

• Original and copy of the will or of the declaration of heirs stamped or validated by the court. If neither exists, CESCO says to go to the court.Verified against the official source
• Original and copy of the Estate Assets Certification.Verified against the official source
• Sworn statement before a notary public: with a sole heir, accepting rights to the unit; with several, assigning their rights and the new owner accepting them. It must include the clause releasing DTOP from responsibility.Verified against the official source
• If an heir is a minor: the vehicle’s value and the legal guardian’s name and signature on the sworn statement, plus a copy of the minor’s birth certificate. If the value exceeds $2,000, also a court order authorising the transfer.Verified against the official source
• If an heir grants a power of attorney for someone to represent them at the swearing, a copy of that power.Verified against the official source
• Original Motor Vehicle or Trailer Permit if current. If illegible or not recorded in the DAVID+ system, a Marbete Certification.Verified against the official source
• Certificate of Title, which applies only to vehicles registered after 11 July 1987. If you do not have it, a duplicate is requested in the sworn statement with a $6 internal revenue stamp and a $2 code 0842 voucher.Verified against the official source
• Payoff letter if the vehicle has a chattel lien, with a $5 code 1696 voucher. If the lien was recorded before 13 January 2013, there is no cost.Verified against the official source

• $15 internal revenue stamp, code 5120.
• $2 internal revenue voucher, code 0842.

1. 1

   Step 1: Start at the court, not at CESCO

   If there is no will and no declaration of heirs, CESCO says it plainly: you must go to the court. The declaration is the document that takes time, and without it stamped or validated by the court the rest of the process does not move. Going to the CESCO window first with the title in hand is the order that loses months.

2. 2

   Step 2: Get the Estate Assets Certification

   CESCO asks for it in original and copy. It is a certification about the deceased person’s estate and is a separate document from the declaration of heirs, so do not assume that having one gives you the other.

3. 3

   Step 3: Draft the sworn statement with the right wording

   Before a notary, and with whichever scenario applies: a sole heir accepting the rights, or several heirs assigning and a new owner accepting. CESCO expressly notes the statement must contain the clause releasing DTOP from all responsibility in the transaction. If an heir cannot attend, a copy of their power of attorney is attached.

4. 4

   Step 4: If minors are involved, work out the vehicle’s value first

   This is the fork that surprises families. With a minor heir you must state the vehicle’s value and the legal guardian’s signature on the sworn statement, and hand in a copy of the minor’s birth certificate. And if the value exceeds $2,000, a court order authorising the transfer is required: another judicial step, another wait.

5. 5

   Step 5: Gather the permit, the title and the stamps, and go to CESCO

   The vehicle permit in original if current, or a Marbete Certification if illegible or absent from DAVID+. The Certificate of Title if the vehicle was registered after 11 July 1987, and if you do not have it a duplicate is requested in the same sworn statement. The transaction stamps are $15 code 5120 and $2 code 0842. If the vehicle has a chattel lien, the payoff letter and its $5 voucher.

At a CESCO office. The declaration of heirs and, where applicable, the court order, are handled at the court beforehand. CESCO publishes its directory of locations and runs on an appointment system.

• Going to CESCO before having the declaration of heirs stamped by the court.
• Confusing the declaration of heirs with the Estate Assets Certification: CESCO asks for both.
• Drafting the sworn statement without the clause releasing DTOP from responsibility.
• Not anticipating the court order when there is a minor heir and the vehicle exceeds $2,000.
• Looking for a Certificate of Title on a vehicle registered before 11 July 1987, to which it does not apply.
• Forgetting the payoff letter when the vehicle still carries a chattel lien.
• Arriving without the stamps: $15 code 5120 and $2 code 0842 belong to this transaction.

These are the government pages this guide is based on.

• Directoría de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO)

  CESCO

  www.cesco.pr.gov