Chilean property lawyers for clients in the United States
Buy, inherit, keep or sell property in Chile without traveling. We handle the legal and survey work on the ground and keep you informed in English.
Your contact in English is Julián Aranda, founding partner. When a matter calls for it, we work with an interpreter.
What brings you to Chile?
Buying land or a home
No visa or residency is needed to own property in Chile. What you do need is a careful check of the title, the boundaries and, in rural areas, the water rights, before any money moves.
Inheriting from a Chilean relative
The estate is settled in Chile through the posesión efectiva, and each property, and each water right, has to be registered in the heirs’ names before it can be sold.
Owning property in Chile from the U.S.
Property tax, occupants, boundaries and paperwork keep running while you are away. We check the status of the property and act on your behalf.
Selling property in Chile
A non-resident can sell through a power of attorney. Chile taxes the gain, not the price, and the buyer may have to withhold part of it, so it pays to plan the sale before you sign.
Holding property through a Chilean company
A Chilean company can own property, but it files a tax return every year, needs a legal representative in Chile and has to be kept up to date. We form it, can represent it and check it.
Paperwork and taxes from the U.S.
A power of attorney signed in the U.S. lets us act for you in Chile, and the tax treaty in force since 2023 sets which country taxes first. Both are worth settling before you buy or sell.
How it works from the United States
A video call
We talk through your case in English, at a time that works in your time zone.
A written quote
We tell you which procedure applies, how long it takes and what it costs, in writing and before you commit to anything. We quote in US dollars or Chilean pesos.
A power of attorney
You sign a special power of attorney at a Chilean consulate in the U.S., or before a notary in your state with an apostille from that state’s Secretary of State and a Spanish translation. To buy or sell property, we confirm beforehand which of the two the notary and the Registrar will accept. We draft it with exactly the powers your matter needs.
We handle it in Chile
We deal with the notary, the Real Estate Registrar and the tax service and, where needed, our surveyors measure the land. You get updates in English.
Paying from the United States
We quote in US dollars or Chilean pesos. We send the account details with your quote and never publish them on the site.
- Card through WebpayDebit or credit. The charge is made in Chilean pesos and your bank converts it to dollars.
- International wire transferFrom your U.S. bank to our account in Chile.
- US dollar accountPay in dollars, with no conversion to pesos.
- PayPalIf it is more convenient for you.
Talk to us
Your contact in English is Julián Aranda, founding partner. When a matter calls for it, we work with an interpreter.
- Hours
- Sunday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Chile time
- Office
- Concepción, Biobío. We take matters anywhere in Chile.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to travel to Chile?
Usually not. A special power of attorney, signed at a Chilean consulate in the U.S. or before a notary in your state with an apostille, lets us act for you before the notary, the Real Estate Registrar and the courts in Chile.
Do I need a visa or residency to own property in Chile?
No. Foreign nationals can buy and own property in Chile without a visa and without residency.
Do I need a Chilean tax ID?
To buy property, yes: you need a RUT. It can be obtained without traveling, through a representative acting under a power of attorney. How to get a RUT without traveling
Can I pay in US dollars?
Yes. We quote in US dollars or Chilean pesos, and you can pay by card through Webpay, by international wire transfer, to our US dollar account or by PayPal. We send the account details with your quote.
Does the income tax treaty between Chile and the United States matter for my property?
The treaty has been in force since December 19, 2023. We handle the Chilean side of your matter; for your U.S. tax return, check with a U.S. tax adviser.
Who will I be talking to?
Julián Aranda, founding partner, speaks with you in English. When a matter calls for it, we work with an interpreter so that nothing gets lost in translation.