Handle your legal matters in Guatemala without traveling
If you live outside Guatemala and have a matter pending here, in most cases you do not need to buy a plane ticket. With a power of attorney signed where you live, we represent you and take your matter all the way to registration.
At a glance
- Main route
- Power of attorney signed where you live
- Legal basis
- 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, to which Guatemala is a party
- Countries
- United States, Canada, Spain, France and others
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Guatemala time
Key facts
- Main route
- Power of attorney before a Guatemalan notary near you, or before a local notary with an apostille
- Apostille
- 1961 Hague Convention; Guatemala is a party
- Translation
- Documents in English are translated in Guatemala by a sworn translator
- Time zone
- GMT-6, no daylight saving time
- Contact
- WhatsApp +502 2261-7501
Situations we handle every day
Property in Guatemala
You need someone you trust to sell, rent or manage your property, and you are asked for a power of attorney.
An inheritance
A relative passed away and there is property in Guatemala that must be transferred to the heirs.
Your name doesn't match
You were registered abroad with one surname, and in Guatemala your records show two, or a different spelling.
A child born abroad
Your child was born outside Guatemala and was never registered at the consulate.
Certificates for immigration
You need a Guatemalan birth, marriage or single-status certificate for a procedure where you live.
A business in Guatemala
You want to set up a company or register a trademark in Guatemala from abroad.
From your city to the Guatemalan registry
Initial consultation
Tell us your case and the country where you live. We confirm whether you need a power of attorney and what powers it must include.
Same business dayChoose the route
A Guatemalan notary in your city is the fastest route. Otherwise, a local notary public and an apostille.
In the same consultationSend the original
We review a scan first; then you send the original by international courier to our office in Zona 10.
Depends on courierProtocolization and registration
We protocolize the document and register it. From here, your matter moves forward without you.
A few business daysWho issues apostilles in each country
Always check the current procedure on the official website of the issuing authority.
| Country | You sign before | Apostille issued by |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Notary public | The Secretary of State of the state where you signed |
| Spain | Notario | The corresponding Colegio Notarial |
| Canada | Notary public | The competent authority, depending on the province |
| Other Convention countries | Local notary | The authority designated by that country |
If your country is not a party to the Hague Convention, consular legalization is available instead. It is slower, but it works.
Services available remotely
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.
The time difference
Approximate local time when it is 9:00 a.m. in Guatemala. Check the exact difference for the date, as daylight saving time changes.
| City | Local time | Best time to write |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. | Morning |
| Houston and Chicago | 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. | Any time during the workday |
| New York and Miami | 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. | Morning or midday |
| Toronto and Montreal | 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. | Morning or midday |
| Madrid and Paris | 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. | Afternoon in Europe |
Frequently asked questions
What is an apostille?
A certificate that authenticates the signature of the notary or official who signed a document, so the document can be used in another country. Guatemala is a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
What does it mean to protocolize a document?
To incorporate a document signed abroad into the official register (protocol) of a Guatemalan notary, so it can take effect and be registered in Guatemala.
Can I sign before a Guatemalan notary in my city?
Yes, and it is the fastest route: the document is executed under Guatemalan law and in Spanish, so it needs neither an apostille nor a translation.
What if my document is in English?
It must be translated into Spanish in Guatemala by a sworn translator before it is protocolized and registered. We coordinate the translation.
Should I send the original right away?
No. Send us a scan first. An apostille in the wrong place or a power of attorney with incomplete powers would force you to repeat the whole process.
Which matters can I handle from abroad?
Most of them: powers of attorney, civil registry certificates, name changes, registration of children born abroad, inheritance, company formation and trademarks, among others.
Lic. Sergio Alvarez
Lic. Sergio Alvarez works every day with Guatemalans and their families in the United States, Canada and Europe, in English or Spanish.
- 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 from wherever you are
Write to us in English or Spanish with your situation and the country where you live. We will tell you the route and send you a free quote.