The buyer conducts a title search on the property
Agency: First Notary Public Department
The procedure is conducted by the buyer to verify that (i) the details in the deed provided by the seller match those in the records of the agency; (ii) to get an official detailed description of the property and (iii) check if any encumbrances are registered on the property. In order to have access to the information, the buyer needs to be authorized by the seller.
Since April 2017, it is possible to access all this information online through the website of the Ministry of Justice. The buyer would obtain a printout with the assigned deed number, which is validated electronically through an official digital stamp.
Time and cost: Less than 1 day (online), no charge
Notary drafts the deed and parties sign before the notary
Agency: First Notary Public Department
Customers first check in the front desk and are given a room number where the transfer will happen. The customer proceeds to the Notary’s office (after having waited a bit in the assistant’s room). Notary clerks will retrieve all the necessary documents and checks them. Then the clerk will input manually all the relevant information in the electronic Notary system which is linked with the Ministry of Justice’s online portal. and approves the transaction and the change of name. Then the parties meet with the Notary to sign the deed. Both parties or their representatives need to be present for the transfer to take place. The check is handed to the Seller by the Buyer and a new deed is issued: One copy is given to the buyer, with the Notary’s signature; the other one is archived with the parties’ signatures.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
