Gravamen (Encumbrance / Lien)grah-VAH-men
Gravamen is any legal charge, claim, debt or limitation registered against a property that restricts the owner's ability to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of it freely. Federal Civil Code Article 1057 describes a gravamen as a real encumbrance imposed on property, and Article 3042 requires all gravámenes to be inscribed at the Public Property Registry.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 11 November 2026
How it works
When a foreign buyer considers a property in Quintana Roo, the notary orders a certificado de libertad de gravamen from the Registro Público de la Propiedad to verify no encumbrances exist. The most common gravámenes are mortgages (hipoteca), seizures (embargo), tax liens, easements (servidumbre) and fideicomiso annotations. The certificate costs MXN 519 (5 UMA) in Quintana Roo under Article 29 of the state Ley de Derechos, takes 5 business days, and shows all registered charges. A property libre de gravamen means it carries no registered encumbrances; any existing gravamen must be cleared before closing, typically by the seller paying off debts or the bank issuing a cancellation deed. The notary verifies the certificate is current—usually within 30 days—before formalizing the sale in the escritura pública. Unregistered gravámenes (such as unpaid predial or HOA fees) will not appear on the certificate but can still create liens, so buyers also request constancias de no adeudo from the municipality and condominium administrator.