Only 1% of Mexicans in Quintana Roo Leave a Will, Leaving 99% of Families in Inheritance Court

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Only 1 percent of people who die in Quintana Roo leave behind a will, pushing 99 percent of families into intestate proceedings when property and real estate are left without a legally designated heir, according to the head of a state legal association.

José Juan Chilón Colorado, president of the state’s Council of Law Graduates, said drafting a will is a matter of awareness and prevention, and that government institutions need to do more to promote the practice. A lack of knowledge, he said, is the main reason people fail to plan ahead.

Chilón Colorado noted that a will helps prevent disputes over property and rights after a death. He stressed the importance of spreading information about inheritance rights and encouraging people to act in time, which he said would leave families better informed and spare them from lengthy, expensive court battles.

When no will exists, heirs must resolve the estate through an intestate process, a legal procedure that can drag on for years and carry high costs for families.