In Guatemala, practising as a lawyer, notary or allied legal professional requires active membership of the Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala (CANG) (Article 3 of its Reglamento de Colegiación). Membership starts with colegiación: the act by which a licenciatura graduate becomes a member (Article 2). A new regulation has applied since 1 June 2026; the General Assembly approved it on 26 March 2026 and it repealed the 1960 rules. This page follows it step by step. The later step for notaries, registration with the Supreme Court, is on notary registration with the Supreme Court.
Quick summary
- Deadline: apply within 6 months of graduating; a fine may apply after that (Art. 11).
- How: the official form, through the electronic or paper channels the CANG provides (Art. 10). The CANG’s membership page links its Crear solicitud button to the CANG portal.
- Requirements: 12, in Article 12 (table below).
- Fee: Q2,510.00 lawyers and notaries; Q2,475.00 allied professions (checked October 21, 2026).
- Then: preliminary review, an appointment to check originals, your membership number, and the swearing-in at a Board session.
- Missing the swearing-in: a fine of 50% of the registration fee (Art. 19).
The Article 12 requirements
| Item | Requirement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| a | Completed application form | The CANG posts one form for lawyers and notaries and one for allied professions |
| b | Notarised copy of your DPI, both sides, or passport where applicable | |
| c | Original, current birth certificate | RENAP birth certificate |
| d | Certified graduation record from the Faculty secretariat | |
| e | Faculty report confirming you passed your licenciatura thesis and all phases of the professional technical exam | The exam is not required for the Allied Professions or temporary registers |
| f | Certificate of political rights from the TSE Citizens’ Registry | Lawyers and Notaries register only (TSE certificate) |
| g | Current criminal record certificate (no record) | |
| h | Digital copy of the thesis | In the format and channel the CANG sets |
| i | One ID-size photo on matte paper, chemically developed | For the CANG register book |
| j | Two references from active CANG members | The CANG posts a reference-letter template |
| k | Register your professional signature and seal | Seal rules below |
| l | Appear on the list sent by your university |
Foreign degrees and incorporations (Art. 13): recognition through the Universidad de San Carlos procedure; degrees issued abroad must be valid in Guatemala under the Ley del Organismo Judicial rules for foreign documents; foreign nationals need legal authorisation to work in Guatemala. A temporary register covers foreign graduates who must practise in Guatemala for at most two years, not extendable (Art. 5).
From file to swearing-in
- Application on the official form (Art. 10).
- Preliminary review (Art. 15), preferably electronic; if something is missing or wrong, you are told so you can fix it.
- Original-document appointment (Art. 16): originals are checked, the registration fee payment is verified, your membership number is assigned, the official photo is taken and your signature and seal are recorded.
- Final check and entry in the relevant register (Art. 17).
- Swearing-in scheduled on the Board’s calendar (Art. 18).
- Swearing-in (Art. 19) at a Board session: you swear to uphold the Constitution, the laws, the CANG’s statutes and rules and its ethics. You receive your ID card and, for the Lawyers and Notaries register, the paperwork for registration at the Supreme Court.
Missing the swearing-in: a fine equal to 50% of the total registration fee, unless the cause is justified and not your fault. At the Q2,510.00 fee, that works out to Q1,255.00 (arithmetic on the published fee). After paying, you have three months to be sworn in; otherwise the membership number is cancelled and the process starts over (Art. 19).
Fee, seal and what to bring
From the CANG’s membership page (checked October 21, 2026):
| Register | Registration fee |
|---|---|
| Lawyers and notaries | Q2,510.00 |
| Allied professions | Q2,475.00 |
- Payment: the page lists accounts at Banrural (checking), Banco Industrial (savings) and G&T Continental (checking).
- The seal: bring the seal you will use; it is registered with the CANG. Only Licenciado (a) may be abbreviated, followed by your full name and academic degree or professional title. If the seal carries a married surname, it must also appear on the application form. For the Lawyers and Notaries register, the seal must also meet the Supreme Court’s requirements (Art. 14).
- On the day: original DPI and formal clothes for the ID-card photo.
Contact: phone 2303-7575, extensions 1516, 1519, 1524, 1525 and 1526. Head office: 0 calle 15-46, zona 15, Colonia El Maestro, Edificio Colegio de Profesionales, 7th and 8th floors, Guatemala City.
Related
- Notary registration with the Supreme Court
- TSE certificate of political rights
- Criminal record certificate
Sources
- Reglamento de Colegiación del Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala, approved by the General Assembly on 26 March 2026, in force from 1 June 2026: https://www.cang.gt/pdfs/nosotros/normativa-legal/reglamento-de-colegiacion.pdf (read October 21, 2026).
- CANG membership page (requirements, fees, notes, contact): https://www.cang.gt/servicios/colegiaciones (read October 21, 2026).