DIRECT ACCESS TO ORGANISMO JUDICIAL
Judicial Branch — Guatemala
Which one to use?- OJ Portal — institutional site, court directory, judgments, jurisprudence
- OJ Virtual — check electronic case file status, view notifications
- CAPE — Judicial Clearance Certificate (Q35-Q50, online immediate)
- E-Filing Cabinet — receive digital judicial notifications
Phone: 22904444 · Address: 21 Calle 7-70 Zona 1, Centro Civico, Palacio de Justicia · Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00-15:30 · Justices of the Peace: 24/7 · Verified: May 2026
The Organismo Judicial (OJ) is Guatemala’s judicial branch — administering justice through the Supreme Court (CSJ), Courts of Appeals, Trial Courts (Civil, Criminal, Family, Labor, Commercial), Justices of the Peace (Juzgados de Paz) and specialized courts. For ordinary citizens, the OJ is where you sue for divorce, child support, debts, inheritance; where you obtain judicial clearance certificates (CAPE); and where criminal cases proceed once the Public Ministry (MP) has filed charges.
Quick rule: Need a judicial clearance for US visa or job? → CAPE online at cape.oj.gob.gt (Q35-Q50, immediate). Spouse refuses to divorce? → Family Court (not notary). Someone owes you money with documentation? → Civil Executive Lawsuit. Ex-spouse not paying child support? → Child support lawsuit in Family Court (USAC free).
Organismo Judicial sub-portals
| Portal | Purpose |
|---|
| portal.oj.gob.gt | Institutional site — court directory, jurisprudence, judgments, news |
| OJ Virtual | Electronic case file lookup, filing of motions, hearing schedule |
| cape.oj.gob.gt | CAPE — Judicial Clearance Certificate (Q35-Q50, online) |
| External Inquiries | Public case status check (no login required) |
| Casillero Electronico | Electronic judicial notifications — replaces paper service |
| Administrative Services | Notary book authorization, seals, special stamped paper |
| Court Directory | Find competent court by subject matter and territory |
| CENADOJ (National Center for Judicial Analysis & Documentation) | Jurisprudence, published judgments, library |
Most-searched OJ trámites — by audience
For families (Family Courts)
For civil and commercial matters (Civil Courts)
For criminal matters and clearances
For lawyers and notaries (B2B)
For international cases
Quick map — which court do I go to?
| Type of issue | Competent court |
|---|
| Divorce, child support, custody, adoption, domestic violence | Family Court |
| Debt collection, contracts, inheritance, property | Civil Court |
| Criminal accusation by MP, conviction sentencing | Criminal Trial Court |
| Labor dispute, unfair dismissal, severance | Labor & Social Welfare Court |
| Mercantile sales/purchase, corporations, trademarks, bankruptcy | Civil & Commercial Court |
| Misdemeanors, flagrancy, first criminal triage | Justice of the Peace (24/7) |
| Adolescents in conflict with criminal law | Children & Adolescents Court |
| Traffic disputes (fines, administrative accidents) | Traffic Court |
| Appeals from First Instance judgments | Court of Appeals Chamber |
Diaspora — Guatemalans and US courts
CAPE for US visa, residency and foreign jobs
Many foreign consulates in Guatemala (especially the US for immigrant visas) and employers in USA/Canada/Europe require the CAPE (OJ Judicial Clearance) IN ADDITION to the MINGOB document. They are TWO DIFFERENT documents. CAPE is obtained online at cape.oj.gob.gt — Q35-Q50, immediate. If you need an apostille for foreign use: MINEX Apostille (Q40-Q50, 1-3 days).
Divorces when one spouse lives in the USA
If you or your spouse lives in the USA, Guatemalan judicial divorce is perfectly possible:
- The party in the USA grants special power of attorney before a notary at a Guatemalan consulate
- A lawyer in Guatemala receives the power and files the lawsuit in Family Court
- The party in the USA does NOT need to physically appear — the lawyer represents
- The judgment is recorded with RENAP and, if needed in the USA, apostilled at MINEX
- For the judgment to have effect in the USA, it must be domesticated in the corresponding state court
See: Judicial Divorce OJ and MINEX Apostille.
US courts seeking notifications or witnesses in Guatemala
If a US court needs to notify a Guatemalan resident in Guatemala, summon witnesses, or take deposition from a Guatemalan for a US case, it must use International Judicial Requests (Exhortos). The process flows like this:
- The US court issues the letter rogatory — generally via the Hague Convention
- Sent via US State Department → US Embassy in Guatemala → Foreign Ministry (MINEX)
- MINEX forwards to the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala
- CSJ designates competent Guatemalan court for execution
- Total time: 60-180 days
See full guide: International Judicial Requests OJ.
Child support when the father lives in the USA
Possible and very common. The custodial mother in Guatemala files in Family Court. The challenge is service and collection:
- If the father has known US address: notification via international letter rogatory
- If the father eventually returns to Guatemala: leaves him with active order that triggers apremio corporal
- If the father has assets in Guatemala: the judge can attach them
- US has UIFSA (Uniform Interstate Family Support Act) agreements with many states allowing bilateral enforcement
Before filing any lawsuit — checklist
| Have it ready | Why |
|---|
| Current DPI (plaintiff) | Mandatory ID for any process |
| Defendant’s identity document | DPI or passport if foreign — without it, hard to serve notice |
| Defendant’s address | If unknown, cannot be notified — case stalls |
| Documents proving your right | Marriage certificate (divorce), birth certificate (support), promissory note (debt), etc. |
| Special power of attorney | If you live in the USA and want a lawyer to act for you — notarial at consulate |
| Lawyer fees | Q500-Q15,000 by complexity — get written quote |
| Court taxes | Variable, generally 1-2% of demand value |
| USAC Legal Aid Clinics | If you cannot pay a lawyer — free for family and small civil cases |
Free legal aid
| Institution | For which cases | Cost |
|---|
| USAC Bufetes Populares | Family, small civil, labor | Free (supervised students) |
| DEMI — Indigenous Women’s Defense Office | Indigenous women’s matters | Free |
| PDH — Human Rights Ombudsman | Rights violations by the State | Free (orientation) |
| IDPP — Public Criminal Defense Institute | Criminal defense if you can’t pay | Free (constitutional right) |
| PGN — Attorney General’s Office | Children, adolescents, missing persons | Free |
| Channel | Detail |
|---|
| Central PBX | 22904444 |
| Administrative hours | Monday to Friday 8:00-15:30 |
| Justices of the Peace | 24 hours / 7 days (flagrancy and emergencies) |
| Address | 21 Calle 7-70 Zona 1, Centro Civico, Palacio de Justicia, Guatemala City |
| Portal | portal.oj.gob.gt |
| Public Information | Requests via portal or in person |
More Guatemalan State resources