Notario Públiconoh-TAH-ree-oh POO-blee-koh
Notario Público is a licensed attorney invested with public faith (fe pública), appointed by the state governor to authenticate and formalize real-estate transfers and other legal acts in Mexico. Defined by Quintana Roo Notary Law Article 17, the notario is mandatory for every property sale, verifies title, calculates taxes and records the deed at the Public Property Registry.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 14 November 2026
How it works
In Quintana Roo the notario is not a clerk but a state-appointed legal professional who conducts the closing. The state governor issues a lifetime patent (patente vitalicia) to practice; Quintana Roo Notary Law Article 6 establishes that the appointment of Notario Público Titular is vitalicio (for life). The notario requests title certificates, reviews liens and unpaid taxes, drafts the escritura pública (deed), reads it aloud at signing, calculates and withholds ISR and ISAI, and registers the transfer. Registration at the Public Property Registry typically takes 15 to 45 business days after signing. Notary fees in Quintana Roo range from 1.0 percent to 2.5 percent of the sale value, plus 16 percent IVA, regulated by the state arancel published in August 2016 which establishes maximum fees. The buyer customarily chooses and pays the notario, though in new developments the developer often designates one who holds the master deed and regime documents. The notario acts neutrally for both parties and the government, not as the buyer's advocate.