Buying or selling real estate
All real estate transfers must be formalized in public deed before a notary. Includes house, apartment, land, farm, commercial space. We handle testimonio for the Property Registry and tax payment.
Notary services
Notary public in Guatemala — full notarial services
Notarial work with the diligence each act deserves: public deeds, real estate closings, mortgages, powers of attorney, appointments, notarial acts, protocolizations, sworn statements and testimonios. Office in Zona 10, on-site when warranted.
When you need a notary
Acts requiring public faith.
Granting a power of attorney
General or special powers (SAT, banks, real estate, business management, litigation). From simple to broad powers with specific limitations.
Corporate appointments or minutes updates
Legal representative changes, capital increases, purpose amendments, manager appointments, shareholder minutes — all before a notary and filed with the Commercial Registry.
Creating a mortgage
Mortgage guarantees for bank or private loans. We draft with proper protection, file at the Property Registry and track until cancellation.
Notarial acts we handle
Scope of notarial service.
- Real estate purchase deeds (urban, rural, horizontal)
- Mortgages, cancellations and pledge guarantees
- Gifts and dation in payment
- Lease agreements elevated to public deed
- General, special and judicial powers of attorney (apostilled when needed abroad)
- Mandates (general and special)
- Legal representative and manager appointments
- Incorporation, amendment and transformation deeds
- Shareholder meeting minutes
- Notarial acts (document delivery, notifications, visual inspection, proof of life)
- Sworn statements
- Document protocolizations
- Special testimonios and second testimonios
- Signature authentications and legalizations
- Acts related to estate succession
Work we refer out
Other disciplines.
- Real estate appraisal — coordinated with independent appraiser
- Land surveying — coordinated with surveyor
- Litigation derived from a notarial act — handled under Dispute Resolution
- Post-closing SAT filings — handled by Accounting if engaged
How we work
Notarial diligence end-to-end.
-
01
Initial meeting
Understand the act, verify identities, review documents (prior deeds, certifications).
Day 1 -
02
Registry due diligence
For real estate: check Property Registry — current status, liens, limitations.
Days 1–3 -
03
Drafting
Draft the deed, share for review, adjust and set signing date.
Days 3–7 -
04
Signing and protocolization
Signing before notary at office or on-site when needed.
Day 7 -
05
Testimonio and taxation
Issue special testimonio, calculate stamp duties and VAT, pay at SAT.
Days 7–10 -
06
Registry filing
Filing at Property or Commercial Registry. Follow-up until recordation.
Weeks 2–8
Reference fees
Indicative notarial fees.
Notarial fees in Guatemala follow either the Notarial Tariff or conventional fees. Indicative ranges for conventional fees:
Real estate purchase
1.5%–3% of value
On deed value. Includes fees + registry search + taxation + filing.
Mortgage
1% of amount
When independent from purchase. Min Q2,500.
General power of attorney
from Q800
Apostille +Q1,200 for foreign use.
Special power of attorney
from Q500
For a specific act.
Notarial act
from Q600
Notifications, inspections, statements, proof of life.
Legal representative appointment
from Q1,500
Includes minute + Registry filing.
Fees exclude stamp duty, VAT and registry costs. Detailed quote per case.
FAQ
Most asked notary questions.
Which taxes apply to a real estate purchase in Guatemala?
Depends on whether it's first or subsequent sale. First sale of new property (from the developer): 12% VAT on value. Subsequent sales: 3% Stamp Duty on deed value. Plus notarial fees (~1.5–3%) and Property Registry costs. We provide a detailed settlement before signing.
How long to register a sale at the Property Registry?
4–8 weeks in normal track. Depends on Registry load and observations. Rush handling possible. We follow up and alert on observations.
Can I grant a power from abroad?
Yes. Grant the power before a Guatemalan notary or consul in your country. Must be apostilled or consular-legalized and, if in a non-Spanish language, sworn-translated. We guide the wording to avoid rejection.
What is a notarial act and when do I need one?
A document where the notary attests to a fact: delivery, site inspection, notification, witness statement, proof of life. Useful as future evidence or for procedural requirements.
Does the notary also advise on content?
Yes. Beyond attesting, the notary must verify legal compliance and advise the parties. Our edge: we are lawyers as well as notaries, so advice is built-in.
What do I bring for a real estate purchase?
Valid ID for all parties, NIT (tax ID), last deed and latest IUSI receipt. For sellers, also a lien-free certification. We obtain certifications if missing.
Can I sign a deed by power of attorney?
Yes, via attorney-in-fact with a sufficient special power. We verify that the power expressly authorizes the act. Generic powers without specific authority won't do.
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