In short
When the three orders of relatives run out — descendants and spouse, ascendants, collaterals up to the sixth degree — one more remains. Article 1727 says that failing the persons legally called to the succession under the prescribed rules, the people of Puerto Rico succeed. But it is neither automatic nor undifferentiated: the same article sets a prior condition and three different destinations. The condition is that there be a judicial declaration of heirs: the goods are acquired “after a prior judicial declaration of heirs”, not by the mere fact that nobody appears. The general destination is the “Fondo de la Universidad”. The first exception is lands of agricultural use, destined to the governmental authority charged with custodying and administering agricultural lands in Puerto Rico; the article describes it by function and does not name it, so neither does this guide. The second exception is the most detailed and the one municipalities care about most: if there is immovable property declared a public nuisance, under the special law that applies, it will be destined to the municipal government in whose jurisdiction the property sits. Not immediately, though: only after the University of Puerto Rico, within the term of five months from being formally notified, has expressed its lack of interest for not representing institutional use, registering the corresponding title in the Property Registry by judgment or judicial resolution. Those five months are a real, published term, and it is worth seeing what they measure: the window the UPR has to express itself from formal notification. What the article does not say is considerable: it does not identify what exactly the University Fund is, does not name the special law on public nuisance, does not say who initiates the judicial declaration in this case or before whom, does not say who formally notifies the UPR, and does not say what happens if the UPR lets the five months pass without answering.
What is it?
It is Article 1727 of the Civil Code of 2020: the fourth order of intestate succession, when the people of Puerto Rico succeed, and where the goods are destined.
Who can do it?
Whoever handles an estate where no called relative appears, and municipalities with property declared a public nuisance in that situation.
Requirements
- Failing the persons legally called to the succession under the prescribed rules, the people of Puerto Rico succeed.Verified against the official source
- The goods are acquired after a prior judicial declaration of heirs and destined to the “Fondo de la Universidad”.Verified against the official source
- Lands of agricultural use are destined to the governmental authority charged with custodying and administering agricultural lands in Puerto Rico.Verified against the official source
- Property declared a public nuisance is destined to the municipality, only after the UPR expresses its lack of interest within five months of being formally notified.Verified against the official source
Documents you need
Cost
Step by step
Step 1: When the people of Puerto Rico succeed
Article 1727: failing the persons legally called to the succession under the prescribed rules. It is the last order, after collaterals up to the sixth degree.
Step 2: It is not automatic
The second paragraph conditions it: “after a prior judicial declaration of heirs”. That step is needed before the goods are acquired.
Step 3: The general destination
The goods so acquired will be destined to the “Fondo de la Universidad”. The article names it thus and describes it no further.
Step 4: First exception: agricultural land
Lands of agricultural use will be destined to the governmental authority charged with custodying and administering agricultural lands in Puerto Rico.
Step 5: The article does not name that authority
It describes it by function. This guide reproduces that description and puts no agency name, because doing so would be guessing.
Step 6: Second exception: public nuisance
If there is immovable property declared a public nuisance, under the special law that applies, it will be destined to the municipal government in whose jurisdiction it sits.
Step 7: But the municipality waits for the UPR
Only after the University of Puerto Rico has expressed its lack of interest in the property for not representing institutional use.
Step 8: Five months from formal notification
The article gives the UPR that term, counted from being formally notified. It is the only figure in the article.
Step 9: And title is registered by judgment or resolution
Closing of the article: registering the corresponding title in the Property Registry by judgment or judicial resolution.
Step 10: What the article does not settle
It does not identify the University Fund, does not name the special law on public nuisance, does not say who initiates the declaration or who notifies the UPR, and does not say what happens if the UPR lets the five months pass.
Where to do it
The article places two steps in the judicial forum: the judicial declaration of heirs and the judgment or resolution by which title is registered in the Property Registry. It does not say before which court, in what form, at what fee or in how long, and this guide does not assume it. The declaration of heirs has its own statute and separate guide on this site.
How long it takes
What to do if something goes wrong
If you face an estate where no relative appears, Article 1727 says the people of Puerto Rico succeed, but not at a stroke: it requires a judicial declaration of heirs as a prior step. The general destination of the goods is the “Fondo de la Universidad”. If among the goods there are lands of agricultural use, those go to the governmental authority charged with custodying and administering them; the Code does not name it and we put no name on it here. And if there is property declared a public nuisance, the municipality where it sits may receive it, but only after the University of Puerto Rico says it is not interested for not representing institutional use, and it has five months from being formally notified. That term is the only figure in the whole article. What you will not find here is what exactly the University Fund is, which special law on public nuisance applies, who starts the declaration, who notifies the UPR, or what happens if the UPR does not answer. The Code does not say. MiPRFácil does not represent anyone in court and gives no legal advice.
Common mistakes
- Believing the government keeps the estate automatically: the article requires a prior judicial declaration of heirs.
- Thinking all goods go to the same place: there is a general destination and two exceptions.
- Assuming agricultural land also goes to the University Fund: the article sets it apart.
- Taking for granted the municipality receives the public nuisance immediately: the UPR is waited on first.
- Counting the five months from any moment: they run from formal notification to the UPR.
- Looking in this article for the name of the agricultural lands authority: it describes it by function and does not name it.
- Expecting the article to identify the special law on public nuisance: it does not name it.
- Forgetting that title is registered by judgment or judicial resolution.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if no relative appears?
Article 1727 says that failing the persons legally called to the succession under the prescribed rules, the people of Puerto Rico succeed.
Where do those goods go?
The same article says that, after a prior judicial declaration of heirs, they will be destined to the “Fondo de la Universidad”, except lands of agricultural use, which go to the governmental authority charged with custodying and administering them.
Can the municipality keep it?
Only if it is immovable property declared a public nuisance under the special law that applies, and only after the UPR has expressed its lack of interest for not representing institutional use.
How long does the UPR have to answer?
Article 1727 gives it a term of five months from being formally notified.
Official sources
These are the government pages this guide is based on.
- Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico
Poder Judicial
bvirtualogp.pr.gov
Last verified
September 11, 2026
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