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Notario vs Escribano 

Understanding Their Roles in Spanish Legal Systems 

In many Spanish‑speaking countries, especially those with civil law traditions, “notario” and “escribano” are terms that refer to legal professionals who do more than just witness signatures. English speakers often confuse them or assume they are identical to a notary public in common law systems, but their functions are richer and more regulated. This article clarifies the difference, explains what kinds of documents each deals with, and shows how using one term or the other correctly matters in contracts, wills, deeds, and powers of attorney. 

What Are Notario and Escribano?

• Notario is a legal professional with formal training in law. They are often state‑authorized to confer public faith (fe pública) on certain legal documents, meaning those documents are presumed valid, authentic, and enforceable in many legal contexts. notariado.org+2Wikipedia+2
  
  

• Escribano is a term used in many countries (e.g. Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) to refer to a professional with similar powers to a notario—someone who drafts public documents, authenticates them, gives legal certainty, and performs what’s called “dar fe pública.” Escribanos are law graduates with specialized training for notarization duties. anu.org.uy+2diccionario.leyderecho.org+2
  
  

Although in everyday speech sometimes “notario” and “escribano” are used interchangeably, especially in countries where “escribano público” is the official term, there are legal differences in powers, in how the system is organized, and in which acts each can undertake.

Key Legal Functions of Notario / Escribano

Here are common legal acts and documents for which a notario or escribano is involved:

• Public Deeds / Escrituras Públicas: Real estate sales, mortgages, property transfers.
  Example: “Vos firmaste la escritura pública de tu casa ante un escribano, para que tu propiedad quede registrada con validez legal.”
  
  

• Wills / Testamentos: Preparing and formally executing the legal will.
  Example: “Tú declarás tus últimos deseos en testamento ante notario para evitar disputas luego de tu fallecimiento.”
  
  

• Powers of Attorney / Poder Notarial: Authorizing someone else to act on your behalf.
  Example: “Vos otorgás un poder especial mediante escribano para que tu gerente firme contratos por vos.”
  
  

• Authenticating Documents: Verifying identity of the signatories; certifying that certain legal formalities are fulfilled; certifying copies of documents.
  
  

• Notarial Acts in Voluntary Jurisdiction: For example in succession (inheritance), matrimonial property regimes, or administrative acts where law requires formality but not a trial. Escribanos often intervene in those. anu.org.uy+1
  
  

• Advisory Function: Advising parties on the legal effects of what they sign, ensuring clarity of contracts or deeds, detecting illicit or flawed clauses. Notaries or escribanos must ensure documents follow legal norms. notariado.org+1
  
  

Differences in Authority and Legal Norms

While both “notario” and “escribano” have overlapping roles, there are important legal distinctions:

1. Public Faith and Official Status
   
   

   • A notario in Spain is a public officer with significant authority, whose acts are invested with public faith. This means documents they authorize have a presumption of truth and enforceability. Wikipedia+1
     
     

   • An escribano often functions similarly in countries like Argentina or Uruguay: giving public faith to documents, ensuring legal formalities and executing legal instruments. anu.org.uy+1
     
     

2. Formality Requirements
   
   

   • Many acts require that a notario or escribano draft the document in a certain way (written, signed, sometimes with witnesses), check identity, capacity, and ensure content is legally valid.
     
     

   • Contracts or agreements may not be enforceable if the required public document (escritura pública) by a notario/escribano is not used when the law demands it.
     
     

3. Neutrality and Impartiality
   
   

   • Notario or escribano must act impartially. They are not advocates drafting for one side. They are guarantors of the legal validity of the document, ensuring all parties understand. notariado.org+1
     
     

4. Jurisdictional Differences
   
   

   • The specific powers of a notario or escribano vary by country. In some jurisdictions, an escribano does almost everything a notario does; in others, some “notarial” functions are reserved for notaries under different names or offices.
     
     

Examples: Correct Usage of Notario / Escribano in Legal Sentences

Here are some educational examples using vos and tú to show how these terms are properly used:

• “Vos firmaste la escritura de compraventa ante el escribano, quien certificó tu firma.”
  
  

• “Tú otorgaste poder notarial ante notario para autorizar a tu apoderado a cobrar facturas.”
  
  

• “El notario revisó que vos seas mayor de edad y tengas capacidad legal de contratar.”
  
  

• “Tú, como cliente, podés pedir al escribano que te explique las consecuencias legales del testamento.”
  
  

Why English Speakers Find This Confusing

In the common law tradition (e.g., U.S., UK), a “notary public” often has limited roles: witnessing signatures, certifying copies, etc. In Spanish civil law systems, notarios or escribanos have much broader authority: they authenticate documents, give the document public faith, check identity, capacity, draft formal deeds, etc.

So if you translate “notario público” simply as “notary public,” you may miss that in many Spanish jurisdictions this role is far more powerful and legally binding than the English term suggests.

Tips for Using Notario / Escribano Correctly in Legal Spanish

• Use notario when referring to jurisdictions or contexts where that is the official title, especially in Spain and many Latin American countries.
  
  

• Use escribano particularly in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, etc., when that is the formal term.
  
  

• Always verify whether a document requires notarization or a public deed; if law mandates intervention of notario/escribano, ordinary private agreement may be invalid.
  
  

• In translations, note differences: you might translate “escribano” as “public notary / civil-law notary” to reflect that legally equivalent function, but keep the term escribano in contexts where it is the formal name.