Guatemala Government Services

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 (free Q0, 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

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?

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 — free (Q0) since 2026 under the Ley de Gratuidad, immediate. If you need an apostille for foreign use: MINEX Apostille (Q75, Q85 with timbres — Acuerdo Gubernativo 35-2024, 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:

1. The party in the USA grants special power of attorney before a notary at a Guatemalan consulate
2. A lawyer in Guatemala receives the power and files the lawsuit in Family Court
3. The party in the USA does NOT need to physically appear — the lawyer represents
4. The judgment is recorded with RENAP and, if needed in the USA, apostilled at MINEX
5. 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:

1. The US court issues the letter rogatory — generally via the Hague Convention
2. Sent via US State Department → US Embassy in Guatemala → Foreign Ministry (MINEX)
3. MINEX forwards to the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala
4. CSJ designates competent Guatemalan court for execution
5. 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

Free legal aid

Contact Organismo Judicial

More Guatemalan State resources

• MINGOB Guatemala — Police Records (the MINGOB ones, different from CAPE), police, immigration
• MINEX Apostille — Apostille for OJ documents going abroad
• MP — Public Ministry — Criminal complaints (step before criminal trial in OJ)
• RENAP Guatemala — DPI, birth certificates (needed for many lawsuits)
• MINGOB Police Records — the other clearance document (the MINGOB one)
• Guatemala Trámites — full directory of state services