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If you live in the United States and a family member left you a house in Mexico, can you inherit it? How does it legally become yours? This is what Mexican authorities say about being a beneficiary of properties while residing abroad.
According to Mexican law, it is possible to transfer properties after a person's death, either through a will or by legal provision. However, to receive the property, it is necessary to complete a succession procedure and meet the corresponding requirements.
Article 1281 of the Federal Civil Code establishes that an inheritance includes the assets, rights, and obligations that do not cease with a person's death. Furthermore, Article 1282 notes that succession can be carried out by the will of the deceased, expressed in a testament, or by provision of the law. This means that living outside of Mexico does not prevent you from claiming a property if you have the right to receive it.
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What happens if your relative did not leave a will?
In that case, a legitimate or intestate succession can be initiated to determine who the heirs are according to applicable legislation. If a valid will exists, the procedure will be testamentary and must follow its provisions.
The process can be carried out before a court or, when legal conditions are met, before a public notary. The route will depend on the circumstances of the case and the rules of the state where the property is located.
One of the main questions is whether you need to travel to Mexico to start the process. The answer is that you can authorize a trusted person to represent you through a power of attorney granted before a Mexican consulate in the United States.
This document can allow a representative to perform certain legal acts on your behalf, including those related to the succession process, provided that the powers are drafted according to the needs of the case.
To request the power of attorney, you must check the requirements of the Mexican consulate that corresponds to you and schedule an appointment. It is also advisable to speak beforehand with the lawyer or notary who will handle the succession in Mexico.
According to available consular information, data such as the full name of the deceased person, the type of procedure, and, if the trial has already begun, the court and the case file number may be required. Additional documentation will depend on the procedure you need to carry out.
Before signing the power of attorney, ensure that it includes the specific powers for the tasks your representative must perform. Not all powers of attorney serve every procedure, so it is advisable to confirm with the professional handling your case if you need the authority to appear before authorities, submit documents, or intervene in the adjudication of the property.
You can check notary services on the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs portal (https://www.gob.mx/public/tramites/detalleTramite.xhtml?homoclave=SRE-01-027) and locate the corresponding consulate in the official directory of Mexican representations (https://www.gob.mx/sre).
Once the succession procedure is concluded, it will still be necessary to formalize the adjudication of the house and carry out the corresponding registry procedures so that the property is legally in the name of the heir. There may also be notary, judicial, registry, or tax expenses, depending on the state and the characteristics of the inheritance. Therefore, it is important to seek advice to learn about the costs, deadlines, and documents you will need before starting the process.
How to claim an inherited house in Mexico from the United States? Guide and requirements
If you live in the United States and are going to inherit a house in Mexico, you can start the procedures from abroad and, in many cases, avoid traveling to carry out each step. The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) allows for granting powers of attorney at Mexican consulates so that a trusted person can represent you in Mexico. However, you must complete the succession procedure for the property to be legally in your name.
- Confirma si hay testamento. Averigua si el familiar fallecido dejó un testamento y consulta con un abogado o notario del estado donde se encuentra la casa. Si existe testamento, se tramitará una sucesión testamentaria; si no lo hay, puede ser necesario iniciar una sucesión intestamentaria para determinar quiénes tienen derecho a heredar. El procedimiento puede realizarse ante un juzgado o, cuando la ley lo permite, ante un notario público.
- Contacta a un abogado o notario en México. Antes de acudir al consulado, pídele que determine qué tipo de poder necesitas y qué facultades debe incluir. También deberá indicarte si el juicio ya está iniciado, dónde se tramitará y qué documentos debes reunir. Este paso es importante porque el consulado prepara el poder con la información que proporcionas, pero no determina quién tiene derecho a la herencia.
- Reúne los documentos y solicita una cita consular. La SRE pide que la persona que otorga el poder se presente personalmente en el consulado con cita previa, identificación oficial vigente y el pago de derechos correspondiente. Para una herencia, también deberás proporcionar información sobre el fallecido y el procedimiento sucesorio. Los documentos adicionales dependen del consulado, por lo que debes verificar sus requisitos antes de acudir.
- Autoriza a tu representante y da seguimiento al trámite. Una vez que tengas el poder notarial, tu representante podrá realizar los actos expresamente autorizados dentro del procedimiento. El abogado o notario te informará sobre la declaración de herederos, el inventario de bienes y la adjudicación de la casa. Al concluir, deberán realizarse los trámites necesarios para formalizar e inscribir la propiedad a nombre de quien corresponda.
- Considera los gastos y verifica el resultado. Pregunta por anticipado cuánto costarán el poder consular, los honorarios legales y los gastos judiciales, notariales, registrales o fiscales que pudieran aplicar. Los requisitos y costos pueden cambiar según el consulado, el estado donde se ubique la casa y las características de la sucesión. Consulta la información oficial de la SRE sobre actos notariales y confirma con el profesional que lleva tu caso qué documentos debes presentar.
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