Escritura pública
Also called Public deed, escritura
The deed a notary authorises to move ownership from seller to buyer. Signing it does not transfer the property; recording it at the Registro Público does.
What it means when you are buying
The escritura is the deed. A notary authorises it, both sides sign, and it is the instrument that moves ownership.
Signing is not the end of the purchase. Ownership moves when the deed is recorded at the Registro Público against the finca. Until that entry exists you hold a signed document, not a property.
Why the gap matters
There is a window between signature and registration. A seller who signs two deeds, or a creditor who registers a lien inside that window, creates a problem your earlier signature does not solve.
That is why the last thing you do is confirm the new entry at the registry, rather than file the deed away and assume.
Frequently asked questions
Am I the owner as soon as I sign the escritura?
No. You are the owner when the deed is recorded against the finca at the Registro Público. Until then you hold a signed document.
How long does the whole purchase take?
Thirty to ninety days from promesa to registered title, and registration is the tail of it rather than the start.
What happens if something is registered against the property before my deed is?
It takes its place in the register ahead of you, which is the whole reason the window between signature and registration is worth closing quickly.
Sources
- Leyes aplicables a la transferencia de bienes inmuebles, 16 July 2025 — Infante & Pérez Almillano (IPAL), September 3, 2026