Certified Copy and Second Copy of a Deed: How to Request

Context Note: This content describes Brazilian notary law and extrajudicial procedures in Brazil (State of Pernambuco).

This article answers

• What is a certified copy (traslado) and what is a second copy of a public deed?
• Who can request a certified copy or official certificate of a public deed?
• What documents are required to request a second copy of a deed?
• How to request a second copy of a deed in person or online?
• How much does it cost and how long does it take to receive the certified copy or official certificate?

In summary

• The certified copy (traslado) is the first official copy of the public deed handed to the parties immediately after its execution in the notary book.
• The second copy of a deed is issued later as a notary certificate (certidão notarial), possessing the same evidentiary value and public faith as the original document.
• Anyone can request the issuance of a public deed certificate, guaranteed by the principle of notary publicity.
• The procedure can be done in person at the competent notary office (tabelionato de notas) or online via the e-Notariado platform.

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What is a certified copy (traslado) and what is a second copy of a public deed?

The certified copy (traslado) is the faithful and immediate copy of the notary act drawn up in the registry book of the notary office (tabelionato de notas). When individuals complete a sale and purchase, donation, or estate distribution, the original text remains recorded permanently in the notary books. The parties receive the first printed copy, called a traslado, to present to public authorities or to the real estate registry office (oficial de registro de imóveis).

The second copy of a public deed, technically treated as a notary certificate (certidão notarial), is the exact reproduction of that deed issued at a later date. If you lost, damaged, or need to send an updated copy of the document to a bank, you must request this certificate. Both copies possess public faith and constitute full proof of the facts witnessed by the notary.

It is fundamental not to confuse the work of the notary office with that of the real estate registry office. The notary office creates and formalizes the legal transaction in the notary book. On the other hand, the real estate registry office records the change of ownership on the property title (matrícula). Requesting the traslado and second copy of a deed at the notary office ensures you have the correct title in hand to submit for registration.

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Who can request a certified copy or official certificate of a public deed?

Acts performed by notary offices are public by constitutional and legal mandate. This means that any citizen can request a certificate or copy of a public deed without presenting legal justifications or proving kinship.

The general rule admits specific exceptions defined by Brazilian legislation:

• Wills: While the testator is alive, only they or an attorney-in-fact with specific powers can request a copy of the public will. After death, proven by a death certificate, the document becomes public.
• Acts under judicial secrecy: Legal transactions or declaratory acts protected by confidential court rulings can only be provided to the parties involved or by court order.

For all other acts, such as deeds of sale and purchase, cohabitation/civil union agreements, or acknowledgments of debt, anyone can request the traslado and second copy of a deed. Consulting these acts ensures legal transparency for real estate and asset transactions in Pernambuco.

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What documents are required to request a second copy of a deed?

To issue the traslado and second copy of a public deed, identification of the applicant is mandatory under regulations of the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (National Council of Justice – CNJ). The applicant must present basic documentation to formalize the request.

Required documents include:

• Official photo identification document (valid RG, CNH driver's license, or professional ID card);
• Applicant's CPF (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number);
• Deed details (book number, page/leaf number, signature date, and names of the parties);
• Original death certificate (exclusively for requesting a public will certificate of a deceased person).

If you do not know in which book or page the deed was recorded, the notary office conducts a search in its archives using the full name and CPF of the participants. If the act was executed in another municipality or state, it is possible to use the national integrated search system to locate the originating notary office.

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How to request a second copy of a deed in person or online?

You can request the traslado and second copy of a deed in person at the notary counter or entirely online via electronic means.

In-person procedure

• Go to the notary office (tabelionato de notas) where the original deed was signed.
• Present your personal documents and provide the deed information you wish to locate.
• Wait for the archive search period and document issuance.
• Pay the official notary fees (emolumentos) and collect the printed certificate signed by the notary or deputy notary.

Electronic procedure via e-Notariado

• Access the e-Notariado Portal and select the digital notary certificate option.
• Indicate the notary office in Pernambuco responsible for executing the act.
• Enter the names of the participants or the book and page details of the deed.
• Sign the request using an ICP-Brasil digital certificate or a free e-Notariado digital certificate.
• Receive the digital file in PDF format, electronically signed with legal value equivalent to paper.

You can also obtain guidance on electronic procedures and tools in our article on the e-Notariado platform.

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How much does it cost and how long does it take to receive the certified copy or official certificate?

The costs for issuing notary certificates and traslados are not freely set by notary offices. They are established by state law in Pernambuco and periodically revised by the Tribunal de Justiça de Pernambuco (State Court of Justice of Pernambuco – TJPE).

The factors shaping costs and timelines are:

• **Fee Schedule (Tabela de Emolumentos):** The total amount is calculated based on the number of pages of the certificate and the searches performed in the notary archives.
• Document format: Both printed certificates and digital certificates issued in PDF format have regulated notary fee values.
• Delivery times: Standard issuance time ranges from 1 to 5 business days. When book and page details are provided at the time of the request, issuance is usually faster.

To check detailed costs and timelines for full-text notary certificates (certidões de inteiro teor), consult our explanatory article on the full-text certificate.

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Checklist of documents

To request the traslado and second copy of a deed without errors, use the checklist below before contacting the notary office:

• [ ] Official identity document of the applicant (valid RG or CNH driver's license)
• [ ] Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (CPF) of the applicant
• [ ] Location details of the act (Notary Book number, Page number, and date of execution)
• [ ] Full name and CPF number of the parties who signed the deed
• [ ] Updated proof of address of the applicant
• [ ] Original death certificate (mandatory only if requesting a public will certificate)
• [ ] ICP-Brasil or e-Notariado digital certificate (mandatory for 100% digital requests and issuances)

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In practice

Case 1: Loss of deed before real estate registration

Situation: João bought a property in Recife and executed the public deed at the notary office. Before taking the document to the real estate registry office to update ownership on the property title (matrícula), his residence flooded and the paperwork was lost.

Resolution: João went to the notary office carrying his ID document and CPF. He provided the approximate purchase date. The archives department located the notary book and issued a second copy of the deed as a full-text certificate (certidão de inteiro teor). With this certificate in hand, João proceeded to the competent real estate registry office and completed the property transfer.

Case 2: Bank requirement for collateral financing

Situation: Maria needed to present proof of a donation received years ago to secure bank financing. The financial institution required an updated public deed certificate issued within the last 30 days.

Resolution: Since Maria lives in another city, she accessed the e-Notariado Portal, located the originating notary office, and placed an online request for a digital certificate. The notary office issued the traslado and second copy of the deed as a digital file signed with a notary certificate. Maria submitted the PDF file to the bank, meeting the requirement without needing to travel.

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O que costuma dar errado

• Confusing a notary office certificate with a real estate registry certificate:
• Mistake: Requesting a second copy of the deed at the real estate registry office or asking for a property title certificate (certidão de matrícula) at the notary office.
• Correction: The public deed is stored in the book of the notary office (tabelionato de notas) where it was executed. The certificate of property title and encumbrances is issued by the real estate registry office (registro de imóveis) where the property is registered.

• Believing that the public deed transfers ownership on its own:
• Mistake: Storing the second copy of the deed in a drawer without taking it to the real estate registry office.
• Correction: Under the Brazilian Civil Code, inter vivos real estate ownership is only transferred upon registration of the title with the real estate registry office. The deed formalizes the transaction, but registration completes the transfer of ownership.

• Requesting a living person's will certificate without being the testator:
• Mistake: Relatives trying to obtain a copy of a living family member's will by presenting only personal documents.
• Correction: A will is a confidential act while the testator is alive. The certificate can only be provided to the testator themselves or to third parties after proof of death via presentation of a death certificate.

• Submitting unauthenticated plain copies when requesting the document:
• Mistake: Sending unreadable images or outdated ID documents in the online request.
• Correction: To ensure the legal security of notary acts, provide clear details and use valid official identification documents recognized nationwide.

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Base legal

• Lei nº 8.935/1994 (Notary and Registry Law), art. 1º — establishes that notary and registry services aim to ensure publicity, authenticity, security, and effectiveness of legal acts. Consult on Planalto.
• — defines the exclusive competence of notary public officers to execute deeds, issue traslados, and issue certificates.
• Lei nº 10.406/2002 (Código Civil / Civil Code), art. 215 — establishes that a public deed executed in a notary office constitutes full proof. Consult on Planalto.
• — establishes the modernization of the Electronic Public Registry System and the issuance of digital notary documents.
• Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023 (CNJ Regulation No. 149/2023), Book II — regulates the e-Notariado platform and procedures for issuing electronic traslados and certificates.

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Rodapé editorial

Editorial team: 5º Tabelionato de Notas do Recife

Author: Dr. Fernando Ribeiro - Deputy Notary (Tabelião Substituto)

Legal review: Dra. Maria Clara Andrade - Notary Consultant

Territorial scope: State of Pernambuco (Federal rule with specificities in the TJPE fee schedule)

Date of last legal review: August 15, 2026

Version: 1.0

Notice: This content is strictly educational and informational based on current legislation. It does not replace the analysis of a specific case by the notary team nor does it constitute legal advice.

FAQ

What is a certified copy (traslado) and what is a second copy of a public deed?

The certified copy (traslado) is the first faithful and official copy of the public deed issued by the notary office immediately after the parties sign the act in the notary book. The second copy of a deed is a new certificate issued later, which possesses exactly the same evidentiary force and public faith as the original document.

Who can request a certified copy or official certificate of a public deed?

Any citizen can request a certificate or second copy of a public deed, without needing to demonstrate prior legal interest. An exception applies to wills while the testator is alive and to acts subject to judicial secrecy.

What documents are required to request a second copy of a deed?

You must present an official photo ID document and your CPF number. It is recommended to provide the book number, page number, and execution date of the act, or state the full names and CPF numbers of the parties involved.

How to request a second copy of a deed in person or online?

You can go directly to the notary office where the document was executed or request online via the e-Notariado system. Digital requests allow you to receive an electronically signed certificate with full legal validity.

How much does it cost and how long does it take to receive the certified copy or official certificate?

The fee amount is established by state law and listed on the official fee schedule of the State Court of Justice of Pernambuco. Certificate issuance usually takes between 1 and 5 business days, depending on local rules.

Base legal

• provimento_cnj 149 2023 — Provimento CNJ nº 149/2023
• lei_federal 10.406 2002 — Lei nº 10.406/2002
• lei_federal 8.935 1994 — Lei nº 8.935/1994
• codigo 10.406 2002 — Lei nº 10.406/2002 — Código Civil
• lei_federal 14.382 2022 — Lei nº 14.382/2022
• lei_federal 8.935 1994 — Lei nº 8.935/1994

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• Certified Copies in Brazil: What They Are, Legal Validity, and How to Get Them

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