Legal matters in Guatemala, handled in English
We help Guatemalans abroad, their children born in the United States, Canada or Europe, and foreign investors resolve legal matters in Guatemala, usually without traveling.
At a glance
- Firm
- Alvarez Hernández & Asociados, Attorneys and Notaries
- Attorney
- Lic. Sergio Alvarez
- Office
- Zona 10, Guatemala City
- Contact
- WhatsApp +502 2261-7501
Key facts
- Firm
- Alvarez Hernández & Asociados, Attorneys and Notaries, Guatemala City
- Languages
- English and Spanish
- Practice areas
- Notarial law, civil registry (RENAP), inheritance, corporate law, trademarks and real estate
- Clients
- In Guatemala and abroad, mainly in the United States, Canada and Europe
- How
- Usually through a Guatemalan power of attorney, without traveling
- Fees
- Free quote by WhatsApp
- Contact
- WhatsApp +502 2261-7501
How we can help
Each service has its own page with requirements, steps and timelines.
Register a child born abroad
Children of Guatemalan parents born in the US, Canada or Europe can be registered with RENAP and get a DPI.
Legal name change
One surname abroad, two in Guatemala? Align your legal name and update RENAP.
Civil registry (RENAP)
Birth, marriage and single-status certificates, record corrections and more.
Power of attorney
Grant a Guatemalan mandato from where you live and let someone act for you here.
Doing business in Guatemala
How it works when you live outside Guatemala
The mechanism is almost always the same: you sign where you live, and we handle the rest here.
Message us
Tell us your situation and where you live. We confirm what you need.
Same business dayChoose the route
If needed, a power of attorney before a Guatemalan notary near you, or before a local notary with an apostille.
In the first callSend the original
We review a scan first, then you send the original by courier.
Depends on courierWe handle it here
Protocolization, filing and registration in Guatemala, with updates by WhatsApp.
Until completionFour concrete commitments
Not promises about results, which no serious lawyer can make, but about how we work.
One point of contact
You deal with the attorney who drafts and authorizes your document, not with a chain of intermediaries.
Clarity before fees
Our quote separates professional fees from registry fees and third-party costs.
Drafted for the registry
Documents are drafted with the registry in mind, which reduces rejections and delays.
If it's not viable, we say so
If a procedure is not possible, or there is a simpler route, you will know from the first conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Do you speak English?
Yes. Lic. Sergio Alvarez handles matters in English and Spanish, by WhatsApp, phone or video call, and in person at the office in Zona 10, Guatemala City.
Do I need to travel to Guatemala?
Usually not. Most matters can be handled through a Guatemalan power of attorney (mandato) that you sign where you live. Some, such as registering a child born abroad, do not even require one.
What is a mandato?
It is the Guatemalan equivalent of a power of attorney: a public deed that authorizes another person to act on your behalf. See power of attorney for Guatemala.
What is an apostille and do I need one?
An apostille certifies the signature on a foreign public document so it can be used in Guatemala. You need one when you sign before a local notary abroad; you do not need one if you sign before a Guatemalan notary practicing in your city. See apostille for Guatemala.
How do your fees work?
We send you a free quote by WhatsApp after reviewing your case. The quote separates professional fees from registry fees and third-party costs.
What is the time difference with Guatemala?
Guatemala is on GMT-6 and does not observe daylight saving time, so the difference with your city changes twice a year. You can write at any time; we reply during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Guatemala time.
Lic. Sergio Alvarez
Lic. Sergio Alvarez personally handles every matter, in English or Spanish, for clients in Guatemala and abroad.
- Attorney and Notary — Universidad Francisco Marroquín
- LL.M. in Finance — Universidad Francisco Marroquín
- MBA — Universidad Francisco Marroquín
- Master in Management — Tulane University
- Specialization in Corporate Law — Universidad del Istmo
- Diploma in Finance — INCAE Business School and Georgetown University
Tell us about your matter
Write to us in English or Spanish. Tell us what you need and where you live, and we will reply with the route and a free quote.