Property transfer in lieu of payment (dación en pago)
We draft and record the handover of a property to settle a debt. Pay off what you owe with your property, legally and for good.
Requesting a quote doesn't commit you to anything
- You tell us about your case. It's free.
- We send you the price in writing, within 1 to 3 hours.
- You decide. If it works for you, we start. If not, you delete it with one click and pay nothing.
No one will pressure you. Your information is used only for your case.
Is it for you?
If any of these sounds like you, this procedure is for you.
- Debtors who want to settle a debt by handing over a property, or creditors who accept it, and who need to formalize it safely
What's included and what isn't
Everything clear from the start. No fine print.
Includes
- Checking that the property has a clear title (we recommend a prior registry review).
- Gathering and reviewing the property's compliance certificates and supporting documents.
- Drafting the document that protects our client's interests.
- Recording or processing at the Registro Inmobiliario.
- A lawyer by your side throughout the transaction.
Does not include
- The official registry fee (2% of the value) or taxes (Form 33 filed with SENIAT, Venezuela's tax and customs authority, if it isn't a main residence).
- Municipal and catastro (municipal property records) compliance certificates, if they need to be obtained (a separate service we also offer). We can handle it separately:Municipal permits →
- The prior registry review of the property (a separate service we strongly recommend).
- The release of prior mortgages or liens, if any.
Add to your procedure
Check it and we include it in your quote. You decide at the end.
What you need
Check off what you already have. You don't need everything to request your quote.
You have 0 of 4.
- Current title deed for the property
- Municipal compliance certificates, property record ID (cédula catastral) and SENIAT compliance certificate, as the case requires
- Cédulas (Venezuelan national ID cards) and details of the parties
- Your contact details to coordinate
How the process works
You do very little. We take care of the rest. The whole process: on average, 7 to 20 business days.
- Step 1
We review the property
We check its registry status and the debt being settled.
We do this - Step 2
We draft the transfer
We gather compliance certificates and prepare the document.
We do this - Step 3
We record it at the registry
Signing takes place at the Registro Inmobiliario.
We do this - Result
Done
We hand you the recorded deed, with the debt extinguished.
You receive it
Depending on compliance certificates, the appraisal and registry availability.
What it costs and how to pay
There are two separate payments, and we want you to see them clearly.
Our fee: we do all the work for you.
The official registry fee. It goes straight to the agency, and we give you the exact amount, with its receipt, before you pay anything.
How you pay: 50% when we start and 50% on delivery. In dollars, in bolívares at the official BCV exchange rate, or with Cashea.
How is your investment calculated?
Your investment has two very different parts. What you pay us, professional fees, from $150, for handling and drafting the whole process from start to finish
What is paid to the government (SAREN, Venezuela's registries and notaries service), the registration fee, set by law at 2% of the property's value, plus 1 per thousand (0.1%) and the registry forms. That amount doesn't stay with our firm; it goes to the registry and depends directly on your property's value The lawyer gives you the exact figure before you pay anything, no strings attached.
FAQ
What happens if I hand over the property to pay a debt without recording it?
The debt is still alive and the property is still yours on paper: the creditor can claim both. Recording closes the debt and transfers the property once and for all.
What does giving a property in payment of a debt mean?
It's transferring ownership to settle a debt; we draft the document and record it.
How much does it cost?
The professional fee, from $150, covers drafting, the visado (a lawyer's sign-off, required before filing a document) and recording; the official registry fee is separate and is calculated like a sale, 2% of the property's value.
Is it safe to accept it without checking?
No: the creditor should do a prior registry review, just like a buyer.
Does the document state that the debt was settled?
Yes, that release (finiquito) is an essential part of what we draft.
About this procedure
A transfer in lieu of payment (dación en pago) means handing over a property to settle a debt you can't, or would rather not, pay in cash: instead of money, the debtor transfers ownership to the creditor, and with that the debt is extinguished. It's a very common way out when someone has a property but no cash on hand, and it frees them from a heavy obligation without going through a lawsuit. But it has to be done right: it must be crystal clear that handing over the property cancels the debt in full or in part, at what value it's credited, and that the property has a clear title so it can be transferred. Done wrong, it can leave the debtor still owing or the creditor with a property full of issues. We draft the transfer document protecting our client, check that the property is in good order, and record it at the registry so the transfer and the extinguishment of the debt are legally sealed. You close the chapter on that debt for good.
Legal framework and important notes
Ley de Registros y Notarías (Registries and Notaries Law) · Código Civil (Civil Code)
- A dación en pago transfers the property to extinguish the debt; it's recorded and is subject to the official registry fee (2%)
- The property must be free of liens and have its compliance certificates
- The value credited against the debt must be stated
We guarantee our service, not what the agency decides. If something depends on them, we tell you clearly and in time.
Is your case different?Ask us, message us on WhatsApp or book a free consultation. A real person answers you.
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