Fe Pública (Public Faith / Authority to Attest)fay POO-blee-kah
Fe pública is the legal authority granted by the state to a notario público (and certain other officials) to attest that acts, declarations and documents are authentic, giving them official evidentiary weight and legal certainty.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 11 November 2026
How it works
In Quintana Roo, Article 17 of the state notarial law vests notarios with fe pública to authenticate instruments and give legal form to acts and facts. Article 3 specifies that fe pública provides authenticity, legal certainty, probative value and executory force to escrituras, and confirms the accuracy of time, place and facts the notario perceived directly. For a foreign buyer, this means the escritura pública prepared by a notario carries a presumption of authenticity and truth. Notarios hold fe pública only within the proper exercise of their functions; outside notarial acts they are simple witnesses. Fe pública does not guarantee the legality of the underlying transaction—buyers must still conduct due diligence—but it does certify that the parties appeared, signed and declared what the deed records. A notario is a law professional invested with fe pública by the state, providing legal security and certainty to acts witnessed. The notario's certification is binding unless a court declares the instrument false or void. This public-faith authority is why escrituras are required for real-estate transfers and fideicomiso setup, and why copies (testimonios) issued by the notario are accepted by registries, banks and authorities without further proof.