CNJ Facilitates Search for Assets and Rights Without Court Order

Provision No. 194/2025, issued by the National Council of Justice (CNJ), which amends the National Code of Norms of the National Justice Inspectorate – Extrajudicial Forum (CNN/CN/CNJ-Extra), is now in force and represents a significant innovation for improving credit recovery efficiency.

From now on, interested parties may access, via CEP (Central of Deeds and Powers of Attorney), information on the existence of public deeds and powers of attorney executed in the name of debtors, without the need for a court order.

Previously, this information was only accessible by judicial order—often denied—creating significant obstacles to locating debtors' assets and rights.

Under the new regulation, searches can be conducted through the Colégio Notarial do Brasil (CNB/CF), via electronic access using an ICP-Brasil Digital Certificate or a Notarized Digital Certificate. The search can be performed using only the full name, CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry) or CNPJ (Corporate Taxpayer Registry) of the person or entity being searched, and is subject to the payment of official fees (emolumentos). 

The search results will provide basic information, including: (i) the type of act (public deed or power of attorney); (ii) the date of the act; and (iii) the notary office responsible, including the corresponding book and page numbers.

Although the full content of the deed or power of attorney will not be disclosed—thus ensuring privacy and data protection—the measure is a significant advancement for creditors. 

This is because the mere existence of deeds or powers of attorney may indicate legal transactions such as real estate sales, donations, or mandates, often used in attempts to conceal assets. It is common, for instance, for a debtor to transfer assets to third parties while continuing to manage them through powers of attorney—a situation that can now be identified more quickly and effectively.

Therefore, making the search for public deeds and powers of attorney available to any interested party strengthens the legal mechanisms for locating the assets and rights of debtors, contributing to a more effective enforcement process and reducing the risk of asset concealment.