Property
Public deed plus registration in the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos
Real property transfers require a public deed before a notary and registration in the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos, which maintains the folio de matrÃcula inmobiliaria for each parcel. Registration perfects the transfer. Colombia also operates significant land-restitution machinery under Ley 1448/2011 for property lost during the armed conflict.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National civil law with regional registry offices
- Deadline — Deed presented for registration within 90 days (or 60 for deeds executed abroad)
- Deadline — Ordinary prescription: five years; extraordinary: 10 years
Governing law
- Código Civil Colombiano
- Ley 1579/2012 - Estatuto de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos
- Ley 1448/2011 - VÃctimas y Restitución de Tierras
In practice
The certificado de tradición y libertad drawn from the folio de matrÃcula is the essential due-diligence document, showing the chain of title and any encumbrances. Land restitution adds a distinctive risk layer: a parcel may be subject to a restitution claim by a displaced former occupant, and specialised restitution judges can reverse transfers, so checking the restitution registry is standard practice.