Selling a house, settling an inheritance, a divorce, a court case, a power of attorney: each of these, handled from the United States, can mean choosing and paying a Guatemalan lawyer from a distance. This page covers the checks you can do yourself before you hire one: where official lists come from, how to confirm registration, what the law requires of a notary, and what to put in writing. It does not recommend any lawyer.
In short: Start with the US Embassy’s referential list of attorneys (updated March 4, 2026), knowing it is not an endorsement. Check any lawyer, listed or not, on the CANG bar association’s member search by colegiado number or name. In Guatemala every registered lawyer can act as a notary (about 31,000, per the Embassy), and a notary must have registered title, signature and seal with the Supreme Court. Put the fee and scope in writing, as the Embassy recommends, and compare it with the arancel. For criminal cases, the Defensa Pública Penal provides a free defender.
Where to find names
The US Embassy’s referential list
The US Embassy in Guatemala keeps a Referential List of Attorneys in Guatemala, dated March 4, 2026. What the Embassy says about it:
| Point | The Embassy’s words or summary |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | «Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy.» |
| Who provides the details | Credentials, areas of expertise and languages are provided by the lawyers; the Embassy «is not in a position to vouch for or evaluate such information» |
| How lawyers get on it | Recommendations to the Embassy and direct contact by the Embassy |
| Complaints | «Any attorney about whom the Embassy has received complaints is not included in this list.» |
| Organisation | By district, then alphabetically; lawyers can practise anywhere in Guatemala |
| Feedback | The Embassy asks for favourable or unfavourable comments for its annual review, at AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov |
| Lawyers not on the list | Many choose not to be listed, and «no negative conclusion should be drawn» from that |
The list is written for US citizens, but anyone can read it.
Fees are a separate question
What Guatemalan lawyers and notaries charge, including the official fee schedule (arancel), is on what a lawyer costs in Guatemala and notary fees in Guatemala.
How to check a lawyer yourself
- Ask for the colegiado number. The bar association is the Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala (CANG), and its member search works by that number.
- Search it on CANG’s site. CANG’s directory page offers a member search «por número de colegiado o nombre y apellido». CANG’s head office is at 0 calle 15-46, zona 15, Colonia El Maestro (Edificio Colegio de Profesionales, 7th and 8th floors), phone (+502) 2303-7575.
- Ask about complaints. The US Embassy suggests verifying a lawyer’s credentials, and any complaints registered against them, with the bar association.
- For a notary, check the seal. The Notary Code requires the signature and seal to be registered with the Supreme Court (Art. 2) and prohibits a notary from using a signature or seal not previously registered (Art. 77).
What the law requires of a notary
The Notary Code (Decreto 314, text as published by the Judicial Branch’s CENADOJ) sets the conditions. Article 2 requires, among other things, a professional title obtained in Guatemala or incorporated under the law, and registration «en la Corte Suprema de Justicia» of the title and of the signature and seal the notary will use; the fourth condition is simply «Ser de notoria honradez».
Article 3 bars from practice anyone convicted of certain offences, including falsification, theft, fraud (estafa), fraudulent bankruptcy, bribery and breach of custody of documents. Article 4 adds that a notary who has not met the obligations of Article 37 (including sending the Archivo General de Protocolos a special copy of each public deed within 25 working days) for a quarter or more cannot practise.
Powers of attorney are registered. Among the duties Article 81 gives the director of the Archivo General de Protocolos is to register powers of attorney and every change or revocation of them, in chronological order. If someone will act for you under a power, ask your lawyer to confirm it has been registered.
Signing from the US: the consulate as notary
Article 6 of the Notary Code allows the Republic’s consuls or diplomatic agents, accredited and resident abroad, who are qualified notaries to practise as notaries. That is how a Guatemalan in the US can sign a power of attorney or a sworn statement without travelling:
- Power of attorney at a Guatemalan consulate
- A sworn declaration from the US
- A simple power of attorney (carta poder): when a notarised power is not needed
Put it in writing
The Embassy’s own advice: «Although it is not common to obtain a written contract, we strongly encourage U.S. citizens to clarify in writing fees for each contracted service.» A short written agreement covering these points gives you something to hold the lawyer to:
| Put in writing | Why |
|---|---|
| The exact service (for example, the sale deed for a named property and its registration) | So both sides agree on what is being done |
| The fee, and whether it includes taxes, stamps and registry fees | So the total is known before work starts |
| Who pays out-of-pocket costs and how you will see receipts | You are not there to see them paid |
| How you will receive the finished documents (testimonio, registry certificates) | Proof the work was done |
Criminal cases
The Embassy notes that a defendant in a criminal matter who cannot afford a lawyer is entitled to a defence attorney appointed at no cost by the Public Defense Institution, the Instituto de la Defensa Pública Penal.
Guides to matters handled from the US
- Selling property in Guatemala while living in the USA
- Divorcing in Guatemala while living in the USA
- A Guatemalan child support order when you live in the USA
- Checking for an arraigo before you fly
Sources: US Embassy Guatemala, Referential List of Attorneys in Guatemala (dated March 4, 2026), read on 24 September 2026; Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala (cang.gt), directory and head-office contact, read on 24 September 2026; Código de Notariado, Decreto 314, Articles 2, 3, 4, 6, 37, 77 and 81 (Organismo Judicial CENADOJ copy, read 21 September 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a lawyer in Guatemala from the US?
The US Embassy in Guatemala publishes a referential list of attorneys, updated March 4, 2026, sorted by district. The Embassy says inclusion is not an endorsement, that it cannot vouch for the credentials the lawyers report, and that lawyers it has received complaints about are left off. The Embassy also notes that many lawyers choose not to be listed, and says no negative conclusion should be drawn from that.
How do I check that a Guatemalan lawyer is real and registered?
The Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala (CANG), the bar association, has an online member search by membership number (número de colegiado) or by name. The US Embassy suggests checking a lawyer’s credentials, and any complaints registered against them, with the bar association.
Is every Guatemalan lawyer also a notary?
The US Embassy says there are approximately 31,000 lawyers registered in Guatemala and that each of them can act as a notary public. To practise as a notary, the Notary Code (Decreto 314) also requires registering the professional title, signature and seal with the Supreme Court of Justice.
Do I need a written contract with a Guatemalan lawyer?
The Embassy notes that written contracts are not common, and strongly encourages US citizens to clarify fees in writing for each contracted service. A written scope and fee also lets you compare the quote with the published fee schedule (arancel) for lawyers and notaries.
Can a Guatemalan consulate in the US act as my notary?
Article 6 of the Notary Code allows the Republic’s consuls or diplomatic agents, accredited and resident abroad, who are qualified notaries, to practise as notaries. That is the basis for documents such as a power of attorney granted at a consulate; see the consular power of attorney guide for what each consulate offers.
What if I am accused of a crime in Guatemala and cannot pay a lawyer?
The US Embassy says a defendant in a criminal matter without the means to hire an attorney is entitled to a defence lawyer appointed at no cost by the Instituto de la Defensa Pública Penal.
