What we verified in “The notary in Puerto Rico: who they are, what they charge”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. Puerto Rico's Notarial Act defines the notary as the legal professional who exercises a public function, authorized to attest to the legal transactions carried out before them, and gives the notary the role of receiving the will of the parties and drafting the deeds; only those already authorized and admitted attorneys whom the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico authorizes may practice as notaries; and its statement of motives explains that in that function the notary is not the attorney of any of the parties, represents no client and represents the public faith.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial de Puerto Rico (rev. August 27, 2026), Statement of motives, Art. 2 and Art. 7: 'El notario es el profesional del Derecho que ejerce una función pública'; 'redactar las escrituras y documentos notariales'; 'autorizados por el Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico para ejercer el notariado'; 'el notario puertorriqueño no es abogado de ninguno de los otorgantes'; 'no representa a cliente alguno, representa a la fe pública' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. Under the Notarial Act, the notary acts impartially and under the administrative direction of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, through the Office of Notarial Inspection; and the statement of motives describes a double role: legal professional, adviser and legal counselor, and at the same time the person who prepares the documents of legal transactions.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 3 and Statement of motives: 'ejercerá con imparcialidad y estará bajo la dirección administrativa del Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico, por conducto de la Oficina de Inspección de Notarías'; 'esa doble función de profesional del derecho como asesor y consejero legal' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. Under the Notarial Act, before practicing, the notary swears allegiance to the Constitutions of the United States and of Puerto Rico; must keep in force a bond of no less than $15,000 to answer for their work, renewed every year and approved by the Supreme Court; and registers their signature, sign, seal and flourish with the Clerk of the Supreme Court.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 7: 'prestará juramento de fidelidad a la Constitución de los Estados Unidos de América'; 'una fianza por una suma no menor de quince mil (15,000) dólares'; 'La fianza deberá ser renovada anualmente y aprobada por el Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico'; 'el notario deberá registrar su firma, signo, sello y rúbrica' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. Under the Notarial Act, the Clerk of the Supreme Court issues the notary a certification with their name and number, the date the Supreme Court authorized them and a facsimile of their signature and seal, and the notary must display it on one of the walls of their office.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 8: 'El Secretario del Tribunal Supremo expedirá para el Notario una certificación'; 'la fecha en que el Tribunal Supremo le autorizó a ejercer la notaría'; 'Será obligación del Notario exhibir dicha certificación en una de las paredes de su oficina' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. Under the Notarial Act, no notary may authorize an instrument in which they are a party or that contains provisions in their favor, nor one in which a party is their relative up to the fourth degree of blood or second degree of marriage, unless that relative appears in a representative capacity.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 5(a): 'Ningún notario podrá autorizar instrumentos en el que el intervenga como'; 'si alguno de los otorgantes es pariente suyo dentro del cuarto grado de consanguinidad o segundo de afinidad' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. Under the Notarial Act, the deed must state the notary's attestation that they know the parties or verified their identity, that the parties have legal capacity, and that the notary read them the deed or let them read it; the notary gives the relevant legal warnings orally; every deed that transfers real property must include the warning about the need and advisability of getting a tax debt certification from CRIM; and it must include the cadastral number CRIM assigned to the property, or state that it is unknown.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 15(e), (f), (h) and (i): 'La fe expresa del notario de su conocimiento personal de los otorgantes'; 'de haberles leído a ellos y a los testigos, en su caso, la escritura'; 'las reservas y advertencias legales pertinentes'; 'conveniencia de obtener una certificación de deuda contributiva del Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales (CRIM)'; 'el notario deberá incluir el número de catastro' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. Under the Notarial Act, when residential property is transferred the notary must advise and warn the buyer that, if they intend to use it as their principal residence, they must apply for the real property tax exemption under the Municipal Code, and must record that warning in the deed.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 11: 'el notario vendrá obligado a asesorar y advertirle al adquirente'; 'deberá solicitar los beneficios de la exoneración contributiva' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. The Notarial Act accepts as identification, when the notary does not personally know a party, an identity document with photo and signature issued by the authorities of Puerto Rico, the United States or a state, or a passport issued by a foreign authority.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 17(c): 'La identificación por documento de identidad con retrato y firma'; 'o por pasaporte debidamente expedido por autoridad extranjera' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. Under the Notarial Act, deeds do not need instrumental witnesses unless the notary or a party asks for them, or a party cannot read or sign; if a party cannot read, the deed is read aloud twice, once by the notary and once by a witness the party chooses; and if a party cannot sign, the notary takes the prints of both thumbs.

   Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Arts. 20, 21 and 25: 'no será necesaria la intervención de testigos instrumentales'; 'cuando alguno de los otorgantes no sepa o no pueda leer o firmar'; 'se dará lectura dos veces en voz alta'; 'el notario exigirá que fijen las huellas digitales de sus dos dedos pulgares' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. Under the Notarial Act, the notary must affix and cancel on each original deed they authorize, and on its certified copies, the Internal Revenue, Legal Aid Society and Notarial Tax stamps; a deed or certified copy without the required stamps is voidable or ineffective; and notaries of Servicios Legales de Puerto Rico, of law school legal aid clinics and of other certified nonprofits do not have to affix those stamps when they authorize deeds for indigent people.

    Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 10: 'será deber de todo notario adherir y cancelar en cada escritura original que autorice'; 'Será anulable o ineficaz la escritura o las copias certificadas de la misma cuando no se hubieren adherido los sellos correspondientes'; 'Los notarios de Servicios Legales de Puerto Rico, Inc., las Clínicas de Asistencia Legal de las Escuelas de Derecho del País'; 'cuando autoricen escrituras de personas indigentes' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. Under the Notarial Act, the original deed (escritura matriz) is the original the notary drafts and that the parties and the notary sign; a certified copy is the literal transcript, in whole or in part, that the notary issues; besides the parties, their representatives and successors (causahabientes) have the right to copies; if the notary refuses a copy you can go to the Director of the Office of Notarial Inspection; and the Protocol, the notary's collection of deeds, is secret and belongs to the State.

    Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Arts. 13, 39, 43, 44, 47 and 48: 'Es escritura matriz la original que el Notario ha de redactar'; 'Una copia certificada es el traslado literal, total o parcial'; 'Además de los otorgantes, sus representantes y causahabientes, tienen derecho a obtener copias'; 'Denegada la expedición de la copia por el notario se podrá acudir formalmente o informalmente ante el Director de la Oficina de Inspección de Notarías'; 'El Protocolo será secreto'; 'Los Protocolos pertenecen al Estado' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. Under the Notarial Act, a testimonio or declaration of authenticity is the document by which the notary attests, on a document that is not an original deed, for example to the authenticity of the signatures on it or to having taken an oath; the notary takes no responsibility for the content of the private document whose signatures they authenticate; and the notary may not authorize testimonios on sales contracts that assign specific portions of a property whose subdivision (segregación) has not been approved beforehand.

    Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 56: 'Llámese testimonio o declaración de autenticidad al documento mediante el cual un Notario'; 'de la legitimación de las firmas que en él aparezcan'; 'específicamente los contratos de venta de inmueble que pretendan expresa o implícitamente, adjudicar porciones específicas en un inmueble cuya segregación no haya sido previamente aprobada'; 'El Notario no asume responsabilidad alguna por el contenido del documento privado cuyas firmas legitime' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. Under the Notarial Act fee schedule, the fee for a deed worth up to $10,000 is $150; for a value over $10,000 and up to $5,000,000 it is agreed, but never more than 1% or less than 0.50% of the value, and never less than $250; for newly built homes and refinancings with more than one instrument before the same notary, the total cannot exceed 1% of the highest-value instrument; for social-interest housing with AFV or another agency, never less than 0.25% or $250, whichever is greater, a rule that does not apply to guaranteed loans such as FHA or veterans loans; and the notary may charge separately, with reasonable fees, for work such as title studies and consultations.

    Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 77(2)(a), (b) and (e), Art. 77(3)(a) and Art. 78: 'cuyo valor no exceda de diez mil dólares ($10,000), los honorarios notariales fijados por este arancel serán de ciento cincuenta dólares ($150)'; 'pero nunca será mayor del uno por ciento (1%) ni menor del punto cincuenta por ciento (.50%) de su valor, lo cual nunca será menor de doscientos cincuenta dólares ($250)'; 'Disponiéndose, que la suma de lo cobrado nunca será mayor del uno por ciento (1%) del instrumento público de mayor valor'; 'nunca será menor del punto veinticinco por ciento (0.25%) o doscientos cincuenta dólares ($250), lo que sea mayor'; 'no aplica a préstamos con financiamiento o refinanciamiento garantizado por agencias federales o estatales'; 'estudios de antecedentes, título, consultas' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. Under the Notarial Act fee schedule, fees for public instruments with no stated value are agreed but never less than $150; fees for testimonios, sworn statements and acknowledgments of signature are agreed between the parties and the notary; fees for cancelling a mortgage are never less than 0.50% of the principal of the note being cancelled, nor less than $250; no notary may charge or receive compensation other than the schedule, or give refunds or discounts to lower it, although they may provide the service free when they consider it deserving and not as a habitual business practice; and a person not authorized as a notary who bills, collects or shares notarial fees commits a felony.

    Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 77(1)(a)–(b), (2)(d) and (4)(a), (d): 'los honorarios notariales se fijarán por acuerdo entre las partes y el notario, pero nunca serán menores de ciento cincuenta dólares ($150)'; 'Por la autorización de testimonios, declaraciones juradas y reconocimiento de firmas o affidávit, los honorarios notariales se fijarán por acuerdo entre las partes y el notario'; 'los cuales nunca serán menores del punto cincuenta por ciento (0.50%) de la cuantía establecida como el principal del pagaré garantizado por la hipoteca a cancelarse'; 'Ningún notario(a) podrá cobrar o recibir por sus servicios notariales otra compensación que no sea la establecida en este capítulo'; 'Esta prohibición no incluye la prestación de los servicios de forma gratuita cuando el notario lo entienda y considere meritorio'; 'será culpable de delito grave en su modalidad de cuarto grado' · Checked October 17, 2026

15. Under the Notarial Act, the Supreme Court, after giving the notary a chance to be heard, may discipline them with a reprimand, a fine of up to $500 or temporary or permanent suspension for any violation of the Act or another law related to notarial practice.

    Sources 1 · Ley Notarial, Art. 62: 'disciplinariamente mediante reprimenda, multa que no exceda de quinientos (500) dólares o suspensión temporal o permanente' · Checked October 17, 2026

16. Under the Non-Contentious Matters before a Notary Act, a notary may handle, among other things, the declaration of heirs (declaratoria de herederos) and the authentication and recording of a handwritten will; that authority can be exercised by anyone the Supreme Court has admitted to practice as attorney and notary; it is shared with the courts, and the person requesting it chooses whether to bring it before the notary or the court; the notary must stop if a dispute or opposition arises among those with a legitimate interest; and fees are agreed in writing.

    Sources 2 · Ley de Asuntos No Contenciosos Ante Notario (Act 282-1999, rev. October 8, 2024), Arts. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10: 'procedimientos de testamentaría y abintestato: declaratoria de herederos'; 'podrá ser ejercida por cualquier persona admitida por el Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico al ejercicio de la profesión de abogado y notario'; 'será concurrente con la ejercida por los Tribunales'; 'El peticionario tendrá la opción de presentar el asunto ante el notario o ante el Tribunal'; 'Surgiere controversia u oposición en un procedimiento de jurisdicción voluntaria'; 'El notario y el requirente pactarán por escrito los honorarios notariales, si alguno' · Checked October 17, 2026

17. According to the Judicial Branch, the Office of Notarial Inspection (ODIN) oversees and guides notaries and serves the public who visit its offices; its office at the San Juan Judicial Center lists the phone number (787) 763-8816; and each certification from the General Registry of Notarial Matters, such as a will record certification or a negative will certification, costs $5.00 in fees.

    Sources 3 · Poder Judicial, Oficina de Inspección de Notarías: 'se encarga de fiscalizar y orientar a los notarios y las notarias'; 'así como de atender al público que visita sus diversas oficinas'; '(787) 763-8816'; 'cada certificación emitida por el RGCN conllevará un pago de derechos por cinco dólares ($5.00)'; 'Negativa – Se emite cuando no aparece notificación ni inscripción de algún testamento' · Checked October 17, 2026

18. According to the Judicial Branch, in the Directory of Attorneys (Directorio de Abogados y Abogadas) anyone can see the names and contact information of people admitted to practice law and notarial practice in Puerto Rico; the service is free and available at all times; it draws on the Single Registry of Attorneys (RUA); and if a detail is missing, the attorney did not authorize publishing it.

    Sources 4 · Poder Judicial, Directorio de Abogados y Abogadas: 'cualquier persona puede acceder los nombres y la información de contacto de las personas admitidas a ejercer la abogacía y notaría en Puerto Rico'; 'Este servicio es libre de costo y accesible en todo momento'; 'El Directorio de Abogados y Abogadas se nutre del Registro Único de Abogados y Abogadas (RUA)'; 'Si no aparece un dato en particular, implica que el abogado o la abogada no autorizó su divulgación' · Checked October 17, 2026

19. The California Attorney General explains that in many Spanish-speaking nations notarios are attorneys with special legal credentials, but in the United States notary publics are people authorized by state governments to witness the signing of important documents and are not necessarily authorized to provide legal services; and that a notario público is not authorized to provide any legal services related to immigration.

    Sources 5 · Attorney General Bonta Issues Consumer Alert on Notario Fraud… (June 27, 2025): 'In many Spanish-speaking nations'; 'are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials'; 'notary publics are people authorized by state governments to witness the signing of important documents'; 'not necessarily authorized to provide legal services'; 'A notario público is not authorized to provide people with any legal services related to immigration' · Checked October 17, 2026

20. Under Florida law, a notary public who is not an attorney and advertises notary services in a language other than English must include a notice saying they are not an attorney licensed in Florida and may not give legal advice or accept fees for it.

    Sources 6 · Fla. Stat. §117.05(10): 'A notary public who is not an attorney who advertises the services of a notary public in a language other than English'; 'I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND I MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE' · Checked October 17, 2026

21. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) lists Community Law Office, Inc. and Puerto Rico Legal Services, Inc. as the organizations it funds in Puerto Rico.

    Sources 7 · LSC, Our Grantees, 'Puerto Rico': 'Community Law Office, Inc.'; 'Puerto Rico Legal Services, Inc.' · Checked October 17, 2026

22. According to the LSC, it is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to fund civil legal aid for low-income people, it funds organizations in every state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories, and on its site you enter an address or city to find the nearest LSC-funded organization.

    Sources 8 · I Need Legal Help: 'LSC is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans'; 'in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories'; 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you' · Checked October 17, 2026