Entre Archivos

Notarial records (protocols)

Deeds executed before a notary (escribano), usually one register per year: wills and codicils, powers of attorney, sales, dowries, manumission letters, apprenticeships, debts, and chantries (capellanías). They prove children, heirs, and spouses; origin and residence; property passed down the family line; and the network of witnesses, guarantors, and attorneys.

How to use them

  • Look first for the notary of the place and year, not for the person: protocols are arranged by notary.
  • Start with a published index. Then check the protocol’s own index and the marginal notes.
  • Separate historical from current records: recent protocols are still in notarial custody, with restricted access.
  • A published abstract or index is a derivative source. Use it to reach the original, which is what you cite.

Where to find them, country by country

62 collections in 18 countries, verified as of 4 November 2026. Each country links to its own page, with notes and bibliography.

Guatemala

  • Protocolos, 1508-1898 (1508–1898). AGCA (GT-INST-0001). In person, with authorization, Fee-based, Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Protocolos depositados y testimonios especiales del AGP (From 1880/1882; received court protocols from before 1876). AGP (GT-INST-0002). In person, free, On request, Fee-based, Legally restricted
  • Protocolos, 1543-1722 (escribanía; Honduras, Guatemala y Nicaragua) (1543–1722). AGCA (inferred). Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Protocolos y providencias, 1579-1842 (1579–1842). AGCA (inferred). Online with free account, Restricted online

Mexico

  • Acervo Histórico, Fondo Antiguo de protocolos (1525–1901 (see C6)). Archivo General de Notarías CDMX. In person, with authorization, Fee-based
  • Acervo Histórico, Fondo Contemporáneo (ca. 1902–1938). Archivo General de Notarías CDMX. In person, with authorization, Fee-based
  • Acervo Histórico, Fondo Consular (No published dates). Archivo General de Notarías CDMX. In person, with authorization, Fee-based

Peru

  • Protocolos Notariales de Lima (productor: "Escribanías y notarías, siglos XVI–XIX") (1533–1899 (creator)). AGN. Free online
  • Protocolo Ambulante de los Conquistadores ("Libro becerro") (1533–1538 (551 folios)). AGN. Free online
  • Archivo de notarios cesados (Dirección de Archivo Notarial / Dirección Notarial) (20th century (dates to be confirmed)). AGN. On request, Fee-based
  • Manuscritos de la BNP (encomiendas, expedientes judiciales, dotes, actas de cabildo, registros de escribanos de Lima, Arequipa y Cuzco; documentos militares) (Colonial and republican). BNP. In person, free, In person, with authorization
  • Fondo colonial de la Beneficencia de Lima (series Cofradías y Hospitales: fundaciones, benefactores, capellanías, propiedades, contratos, esclavizados, testamentos, cuentas) (16th to early 19th century (the archive spans 1562 to 2000)). Sociedad de Beneficencia de Lima Metropolitana. Free online

Colombia

  • Sección Colonia, fondo Testamentarias (1552–1852 (223 vols.)). AGN. In person, free, In person, with authorization, Free online, Online with free account
  • Sección Colonia, fondo Censos (1601–1869 (23 vols.)). AGN. In person, free, In person, with authorization, Free online, Online with free account
  • Sección Notarías (Notaría Primera y otras de Bogotá: protocolos coloniales) (From at least 1580 (Notaría Primera, vol. 11); date range to be confirmed). AGN. In person, free, In person, with authorization
  • Colombia, Cundinamarca, Bogotá (Distrito Capital), registros notariales, 1822-2015 (Title: 1822–2015; items listed: ca. 1898–1905). FamilySearch. Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Registros notariales, 1727-1930 (Notaría Primera de Valledupar) (1727–1905 according to the film list). FamilySearch (filmed at the Notaría and at the AGN). Online with free account, Restricted online

Argentina

  • Escribanías de Registro: Protocolos de Escribanos (To be confirmed. The FHL/BYU says "from the 16th century"). AGN, División Nacional. In person, free
  • Argentina, Distrito Federal, Buenos Aires, registros notariales, 1780-1963 (1780-1963). FamilySearch (catalog 3010197). Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Permisos notariales para matrimonios, 1774-1809 (1774-1809). Notaría de Buenos Aires; FHL copy. Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Real Tribunal del Consulado (Tribunal Comercial, Escribanía de Comercio) (Colonial and early national period). AGN. In person, free
  • Registro de Propiedades, Hipotecas, Embargos e Inhibiciones (To be confirmed). AGN. In person, free
  • Archivo de Protocolos Notariales de la CABA (To be confirmed). Colegio de Escribanos CABA. In person, with authorization, Fee-based, Legally restricted

Chile

  • Escribanos de Santiago (1559-1800 (973 books; 58.30 m)). ANH. In person, free, In person, with authorization
  • Notarios (agrupación CL ARNAD AD-08) (Santiago 1792-1930; Valparaíso 1660-1927; Concepción 1751-1933; La Serena "1579-1932"; Talca "1601-1926"; Quirihue "1608-1933"; Quillota "1619-1931"; Chillán 1749-1931; Copiapó 1677-1933; San Felipe 1658-1933; Rancagua 1709-1933; Petorca 1730-1877; Iquique 1864-1970; Antofagasta 1879-1981; Temuco 1887-1911; Valdivia 1788-1898; Ancud 1859-1900). ARNAD. In person, free, In person, with authorization, Fee-based
  • Conservadores de Bienes Raíces: registros de propiedad, comercio, minas y aguas (Santiago 1859-1964 (594 vols., 537,896 entries); Valparaíso 1829-1929; Concepción 1859-1931; Iquique 1880-1967; Antofagasta 1879-1963; Copiapó (mines) 1826-1961; La Serena 1853-1932; Talca 1891-1926). ARNAD. Online with free account
  • Extractos de memoristas de la Facultad de Derecho (instrumentos notariales del siglo XVIII) (18th–19th centuries). Biblioteca de la Facultad de Derecho, U. de Chile. In person, free

El Salvador

  • Protocolos notariales republicanos (escribanos y notarios) (From 1835 (decree of 15 April 1835)). CSJ, Sección del Notariado. To be confirmed
  • Testamentos, 1610-1781 (en el catálogo: bienes de difuntos de El Salvador y Nicaragua) (1610-1781). AGCA. Online with free account, Restricted online

Honduras

  • Fondo Colonial (Gobernación/Intendencia de Comayagua y Alcaldía Mayor de Tegucigalpa) (16th century–1821). ANH. In person, free
  • Protocolos, 1543-1722 (Escribanía de Cámara / AGCA) (1543-1722). AGCA; microfilm at FS. Online with free account

Nicaragua

  • Testamentos, 1610-1781 (en las notas de película: "Bienes de difuntos") (1610-1781). AGCA / FamilySearch. Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Protocolos, 1508-1898 (1508-1898 (films listed: 1508-1574, 1568-1762)). AGCA / FamilySearch. Online with free account, Restricted online
  • Protocolos, 1543-1722 (dato del coordinador) (1543-1722). AGCA / FamilySearch. To be confirmed
  • Archivo General de Centro América, [1544-1821], microfilm (Ross Publishing) — sección Nicaragua (1544-1821). CRL. On request

Costa Rica

  • Protocolos (fondo público 81), con las series Protocolos Coloniales por ciudad, Lara y Chamorro y Notariales (1602–1961 (Protocolos Coloniales: 1607–1850)). ANCR (AH). In person, free
  • Protocolos e índices notariales y consulares; registro de testamentos (1900–). ANCR (Archivo Notarial). In person, free, On request, Fee-based
  • Protocolos, 1508–1898 (escribanos de Guatemala) (1508–1898). AGCA via FS. Online with free account, Restricted online

Panama

  • Sección Jurídica, Grupo Notarías (protocolos notariales) (1776–20th century (W&J). For the 19th century alone, more than 100,000 protocols in 3,500 volumes (Meding)). AN. In person, free
  • Notaría Primera de Panamá (84 volúmenes) (1804–1872). AN. In person, free
  • Tomos de Ventas de Esclavos (To be confirmed). AN. In person, free, Legally restricted
  • Audiencia de Panamá (Sección V, Gobierno) (16th–18th centuries). AGI (Sevilla). Free online

Dominican Republic

  • Protocolos Notariales (fondo) (1822-1844 cataloged (date range of the whole fonds: to be confirmed)). AGN. In person, free
  • Documentos del Archivo Real del Seibo: Testamentos y testamentarías I y II (Reyes Díaz y Devers Liriano; AGN 2018, vols. CCCLI y CCCLII) (Colonial (dates to be confirmed)). AGN (El Seibo local fonds). In person, free

Venezuela

  • Subfondo Registro Público (1586–1992). AGN. In person, with authorization
  • Sección Testamentos (18th century (BYU gives 1595–1879 for the ecclesiastical wills)). AAC. In person, with authorization
  • Fondos coloniales de Venezuela en el Archivo General de la Nación de Colombia (Testamentarías, Censos, Tierras, Empleados Públicos "de Venezuela") (Testamentarías 1582–1820 (BYU)). AGN Colombia. To be confirmed

Ecuador

  • Fondo Notarial – Protocolos de Quito (Notaría 1.ª, 3.ª, etc.) (From the 16th century (citations from 1678–1683)). EC-INST-0001. In person, with authorization
  • Fondo Notarial – Primera Notaría del Cantón Tulcán (Sección Protocolos) (Project title: 1828–1937; the inventory spans 1801 to 1948). EC-INST-0001. In person, with authorization
  • Fondo Notarial – sede zonal de Tungurahua (Notarías 1.ª, 2.ª y 3.ª de Ambato; 1.ª de Píllaro; Pelileo) (1604–1949 (lawsuits from 1624 to 1960)). EC-INST-0001 (Ambato regional office). In person, free, In person, with authorization
  • Microfilmes «Some Treasures of Cotocollao» (71 rollos, 1966): padrones de 1827 (rollo 5), lista de mandas testamentarias de un notario de Quito de 1776–1832 (rollo 8), papeles del Ministerio del Interior de la década de 1820 a 1892, copiadores de los gobernadores de Cuenca de 1799–1830 (rollos 70–71) (Ca. 1601 to the 1880s (mostly 1800–1883)). EC-INST-0013 (originals at EC-INST-0003). On request
  • Archivo del AHG – Fondo de manuscritos y Fondo bibliográfico (16.754 manuscritos; 66.173 piezas bibliográficas) (Colonial period to 20th century). EC-INST-0002. In person, free

Bolivia

  • Fondo Escrituras Públicas de La Plata (EP) (1548–1825 (another version: 1549–1825)). ABNB. In person, free, In person, with authorization
  • Padrones de la Prefectura de La Paz (EAP160: "Digitisation of Bolivian indigenous communities records on ayllu structure, tax and land tenure") (1828–1950 (collection EAP160/1)). ALP (originals) / British Library EAP (digital copies). Free online
  • Escrituras Notariales de Potosí (1550–1985). Casa Nacional de Moneda (Archivo Histórico). To be confirmed

Paraguay

  • Sección Nueva Encuadernación (SNE) (16th–19th century (e.g., 1615–1626; 1674; 1783)). ANA. Free online, Online with free account
  • Sección Propiedades y Testamentos (To be confirmed). ANA. Online with free account, In person, free

Uruguay

  • Escribanía de Gobierno y Hacienda: expedientes (1752-1971). AGN (AH). Free online
  • Escribanía de Gobierno y Hacienda: protocolos (1782-1899). AGN (AH). Free online
  • Colección de Protocolos y Protocolizaciones (1730/1732-1969). AGN (AJ). In person, with authorization, On request, Fee-based

Belize

  • Private Records (Private Record Series) (1790–1845). BARS. In person, free
  • Deed Books (Mar. 1861 – Mar. 1954 (books 2–40)). BARS. In person, free, Free online

Other record types: Notarial records (protocols) · Judicial records and probate (sucesiones) · Marriage dispensations and prenuptial investigations · Census and tax lists (padrones) and censuses · Military records · Migration · Historical newspapers and official gazettes · Private archives and images · Indexes and derivative works