In Re Nilsa L Garcia Cabrera

Key Facts

Issues

• The notary was found to have certified false information in the notarial acts, including incorrect statements about property ownership and payment details, violating the public notarial faith and Art. 14 of the Notarial Law.
• The notary failed to provide necessary legal warnings to clients about the incomplete registration of property titles and potential legal risks, breaching Art. 15(f) of the Notarial Law.
• The notary's conduct contravened ethical standards requiring the exaltation of professional honor and dignity, violating Canon 38 of the Code of Professional Ethics.
• The notary failed to maintain effective communication with clients regarding the status and progress of their legal matters, breaching Canon 19 of the Code of Professional Ethics.
• The notary's actions demonstrated a breach of professional honesty and integrity, violating Canon 35 of the Code of Professional Ethics and Art. 2 of the Notarial Law.
• The notary demonstrated a lack of diligence and competence in processing property registration for over ten years, violating Canon 18 of the Code of Professional Ethics.

Holdings

• The court found that the notary violated Canon 19 of the Code of Professional Ethics by failing to maintain communication with the clients about the progress and issues in the registration process for several years. This included not attending a scheduled meeting and not responding to follow-up communications.
• The court concluded that the notary breached her duty of diligence and competence under Canons 12 and 18 of the Code of Professional Ethics by delaying the registration process for over ten years and not ensuring the proper execution of the notarial acts. This included failing to promptly present documents to the Property Registry and not addressing critical legal requirements.
• The court determined that the notary violated the public notarial faith by certifying false facts in the notarial acts, such as claiming ownership of the property without all heirs present and ratifying the transaction. This included inconsistencies between the original purchase deed and the subsequent ratification deed regarding the payment of the property and the absence of proper ratification by all required parties.
• The court found that the notary failed to provide necessary legal warnings to the parties, as mandated by Article 15(f) of the Notarial Law, regarding the incomplete ratification of the sale and the need for hereditary rights to be registered. This omission left the parties uninformed about critical legal risks affecting the validity of the transaction.

Remedies

• The notarial bond is automatically canceled and will be considered valid for three years after its termination in relation to acts performed by Nilsa L. Garcia Cabrera during the period when the bond was in effect.
• Nilsa L. Garcia Cabrera is granted 30 days to certify compliance with the court's order to the court and the Office of Notarial Inspection (ODIN).
• The court warns that non-compliance with the order may result in the imposition of severe sanctions, including indefinite suspension from the practice of law.
• The court suspends Nilsa L. Garcia Cabrera indefinitely from the practice of notary. Additionally, the court censures her for not fully adhering to the minimum requirements of the profession. The court warns her to be extremely careful in her duties and the obligations she assumes with her clients.
• The court orders Nilsa L. Garcia Cabrera to, at her own expense, complete the process of presenting the title of the complainants to the corresponding Property Registry so that the Deed of Sale in question becomes a registrable title.

Legal Principles

Precedent Name

• In re Belén Trujillo
• In re Rodríguez Mercado
• In re Fingerhut Mandry
• In re Vargas Velázquez
• In re Pagán Pagán
• In re Maldonado Maldonado
• In re Pagani Padró

Cited Statute

• Reglamento General para la Ejecución de la Ley Hipotecaria y del Registro de la Propiedad
• Reglamento Notarial de Puerto Rico
• Código de Ética Profesional, 4 LPRA Ap. IX
• Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria de Puerto Rico, Ley Núm. 210-2015
• Ley Notarial de Puerto Rico, Ley Núm. 75 de 2 de julio de 1987
• Ley Hipotecaria y del Registro de la Propiedad, Ley Núm. 198 de 8 de agosto de 1979

Judge Name

• Pabón Charneco
• Martínez Torres

Passage Text

• Por los fundamentos que anteceden, suspendemos indefinidamente a la licenciada García Cabrera de la práctica de la notaría. [...] Le advertimos que en el futuro debe ser sumamente cuidadosa en el desempeño de sus funciones y en el cumplimiento de las obligaciones que asume con sus clientes.
• La ODIN determinó que la licenciada García Cabrera faltó a su deber de diligencia y competencia al no tramitar de forma diligente la inscripción de los derechos hereditarios de los vendedores. [...] estimó que la letrada podía presentar la instancia, sin que fuera necesaria la firma de algún miembro de la sucesión, y que al autorizar la escritura debió reservarse los aranceles necesarios para su posterior inscripción.
• La licenciada García Cabrera incumplió con el mandato del Art. 15(f) de la Ley Notarial [...] no se consignó alguna advertencia a los otorgantes respecto a que algunos herederos no habían comparecido. Tampoco se hizo en cuanto a la necesidad de que el instrumento fuera ratificado por aquellos titulares que no comparecieron.