Legal Translation Glossary for Ecuador

Compromiso de compraventa

Promise to purchase / purchase commitment

A preliminary agreement in which the parties commit to the future execution of a sale contract, usually with a deposit and a deadline for signing the escritura pública.

Example: The compromiso de compraventa was signed with a 10% deposit and a 60-day deadline for the escritura.

Contrato de compraventa

Purchase agreement / sale contract

The principal contract by which ownership of an asset is transferred in exchange for a price, executed in Ecuador as a public deed when the asset is real property.

Example: The contrato de compraventa was notarized and registered with the Registro de la Propiedad.

Contrato de arrendamiento

Lease agreement

A contract by which the owner of a property (arrendador) grants temporary use to another (arrendatario) in exchange for rent, governed by the Código Civil and the Ley de Inquilinato.

Example: The contrato de arrendamiento was signed for a two-year term with monthly rent payable in advance.

Divorcio por mutuo consentimiento

Divorce by mutual consent

A simplified divorce procedure available to spouses who agree on the dissolution, executed before a judge or notary, with a settlement on child custody, support, and property.

Example: The parties executed a divorcio por mutuo consentimiento before the notario after executing a settlement on patrimonial matters.

Testamento

Will / testament

A formal instrument by which a person disposes of their estate to take effect upon death. In Ecuador, an abierto will is granted before a notary and three witnesses.

Example: The testamento abierto designated the spouse as the sole heir of the marital home and the children as heirs of the remainder.

Declaración juramentada

Sworn statement / affidavit

A written declaration made under oath before a notary or other competent authority, used in administrative, judicial, and notarial proceedings.

Example: The defendant executed a declaración juramentada acknowledging the debt and proposing a payment schedule.

Acta de asamblea

Minutes of a shareholders' or partners' meeting

A written record of the resolutions adopted at a shareholders', partners', or members' meeting of an Ecuadorian company, signed by the chair and secretary.

Example: The acta de asamblea recorded the unanimous approval of the capital increase and the amendment to the bylaws.

Estatutos / estatutos sociales

Bylaws / corporate statutes

The internal governing document of an Ecuadorian company, filed with the Superintendencia de Compañías, defining the company's name, purpose, capital, governance, and shareholder rights.

Example: The estatutos were amended to reflect the new share structure and the appointment of the new administrator.

Compromiso societario / pacto de accionistas

Shareholders' agreement

A private agreement between shareholders regulating the governance, transfer, and operation of the company, complementary to the estatutos.

Example: The pacto de accionistas included tag-along, drag-along, and right-of-first-refusal provisions for the founding shareholders.

Nombramiento

Appointment (of officers)

The formal appointment of a company's administrator, gerente, presidente, or监事, registered with the Superintendencia de Compañías.

Example: The nombramiento of the new gerente general was registered with the Superintendencia de Compañías within the legal deadline.

Fideicomiso

Trust

A legal arrangement under which a settlor transfers assets to a trustee to administer for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries, regulated by the Codigo Organico Financiero.

Example: The fideicomiso held the proceeds of the sale until the buyer's outstanding tax obligations were cleared.

Resolución de la Superintendencia de Compañías

Resolution of the Superintendency of Companies

An administrative order issued by the Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros, approving or denying a corporate act, or imposing sanctions on a regulated entity.

Example: The resolución approved the merger subject to the publication of the notice in a national newspaper.

Poder general / poder especial

General power of attorney / special power of attorney

A notarial instrument granting authority to act on behalf of another. A poder general covers a broad range of acts; a poder especial limits authority to specific acts or transactions.

Example: The investor executed a poder especial authorizing the Ecuadorian counsel to sign the share purchase agreement on its behalf.

Escritura pública

Public deed

A formal document executed before an Ecuadorian notary that has the status of a public instrument. Required for property transfers, certain corporate acts, marriage settlements, and powers of attorney.

Example: The property transfer was formalized through an escritura pública registered with the Registro de la Propiedad.

Certificación de firmas

Certification of signatures

Notarial act confirming that a signature on a document was made by the person identified and in the presence of the notary.

Example: The certification of firmas was performed at Notaría 17 in Quito on the same day as signing.

Apostilla / apostille

Apostille

A standardized certification under the 1961 Hague Convention that authenticates a public document for use in another signatory country. Ecuador has been a party to the Convention since 2005.

Example: The birth certificate required an apostilla from the Cancillería before it could be used in the U.S. immigration filing.

Traducción certificada / traducción jurada

Certified translation / sworn translation

A translation accompanied by a signed statement by the translator attesting to accuracy and completeness. In Ecuador, a certified translation must include the translator's full name, signature, date, and a statement of fidelity.

Example: The court required a traducción certificada of the foreign judgment before admitting it as evidence.

Registro de la Propiedad

Property Registry

The public registry in each canton where real estate transactions, liens, and encumbrances are recorded for the purpose of public notice and protection of third parties.

Example: The escritura was filed with the Registro de la Propiedad to perfect the transfer of title to the buyer.

Sentencia

Judgment / court decision

The final written decision of a court resolving the matters in dispute, including the findings of fact, the legal reasoning, and the operative ruling.

Example: The sentencia de primera instancia was issued in favor of the plaintiff, ordering specific performance of the contract.

Auto interlocutorio

Interlocutory order

A written order of the court that resolves an incidental matter during the proceeding, without deciding the merits of the case.

Example: The judge issued an auto interlocutorio admitting the documentary evidence and scheduling the testimonial stage.

Recurso de apelación

Appeal

The procedural remedy by which a party asks a higher court to review and reverse or modify a lower court's decision.

Example: The defendant filed a recurso de apelación within the 10-day term after notification of the sentence.

Juicio ejecutivo

Executive proceeding / collection action

A summary court proceeding used to collect on an enforceable title, such as a promissory note, a check, or a final judgment, allowing for attachment and sale of the debtor's assets.

Example: The bank initiated a juicio ejecutivo to collect on the unpaid promissory note.

Demanda

Complaint / petition

The initial written filing by which a party brings a legal action before a court, identifying the parties, the facts, the legal basis, and the relief requested.

Example: The demanda was admitted by the juez de primera instancia and the defendant was ordered to respond within 30 days.

Acción de protección

Action for protection / constitutional protection action

A constitutional remedy available under the Ley Orgánica de Garantías Jurisdiccionales to protect constitutional rights, including due process, equality, and property.

Example: The plaintiff filed an acción de protección alleging that the administrative seizure violated due process.

Juicio de sucesión

Succession proceeding (intestate or testate)

The court or notarial proceeding by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to the heirs, in accordance with the will (testate) or the legal order of succession (intestate).

Example: The juicio de sucesión was opened before the notaría after the partida de defunción and the will were filed.

Partida de nacimiento

Birth certificate (entry)

The civil registry entry recording a person's birth, issued by the Registro Civil del Ecuador. Used for citizenship, identity, and family proceedings.

Example: The partida de nacimiento was required for the citizenship application and the apostilled translation was used in the foreign filing.

Acta de matrimonio

Marriage certificate (entry)

The civil registry entry recording a marriage, issued by the Registro Civil del Ecuador. Required for name changes, residency filings, and family proceedings.

Example: The acta de matrimonio was apostilled and translated for the U.S. immigration petition.

Partida de defunción

Death certificate (entry)

The civil registry entry recording a death, issued by the Registro Civil del Ecuador. Required for inheritance proceedings, life-insurance claims, and family filings.

Example: The partida de defunción was filed with the notaría as part of the inheritance proceeding (juicio de sucesión).

Visa de residencia temporal / permanente

Temporary / permanent residency visa

An Ecuadorian immigration visa granting the right to reside in the country for a defined period or indefinitely, subject to the conditions in the Ley de Movilidad Humana.

Example: The visa de residencia temporal was issued for an initial two-year term, renewable, with the right to work without a separate work visa.

Cédula de identidad / cédula de ciudadanía

National identity card

The national identity document issued to Ecuadorian citizens by the Registro Civil, used for identification, banking, and most official transactions in Ecuador.

Example: The cedula de ciudadanía is required for the contract signing and for the notaría to identify the parties.