Part First: Official Document

Article 144

If the instrument does not acquire its official character due to a defect in its form or the absence of the official's capacity or authority, it shall be considered as a private instrument if it contains the signatures of the parties to the relationship, even if the rule stipulated in Article 152 of this Law is not observed, unless the official character is required for the validity of the legal act.

Article 145

1. The document that has the form of an official document and its external appearance shall be deemed official until the contrary is proven by the person who objects to it.

Article 146

1. The official document has an executive force, and it is evidence against all parties regarding the matters that the public official has undertaken or that have occurred in the presence of those concerned within the limits of his authority and jurisdiction. 2. The effect of the official document extends to the heirs of its parties and their successors. 3. A claim of forgery of the official document suspends its probative and executive force.

Article 147

The content of the declarations of the contracting parties contained in an official deed constitutes proof against them and their successors and is presumed correct unless the contrary is proven. An official deed is only valid as a beginning of written proof regarding declarations that have no direct relation

Article 148

1. The official copy of the official document is deemed to be in conformity with the original, unless one of the parties objects to it, in which case this copy is compared with the original.

Article 149

If the original official document is lost, its official copy shall be relied upon. If all its official copies are lost, its registration in the official records shall suffice as a written evidence, provided that the loss of the original document and its copy is verified. If it appears from the data of these records that the document was drawn up in the presence of witnesses, these witnesses must be summoned before the court.