Notificación

Notificación is the act of informing a person or entity about a fact, decision, or event, with the intention that the information has legal, administrative, or practical effects. In many systems, notificación also marks the start of deadlines to act and serves as proof that the information was made accessible to the interested party.

In legal contexts, notificación is the formal method by which a party becomes aware of a decision, a lawsuit, a summons, or other procedural steps. Methods vary by jurisdiction and can include personal delivery of documents, certified or registered mail with delivery proof, electronic notification, or publication in official gazettes. A record of notificación (such as an acta or constancia) documents that the notification occurred, who received it, and when.

In administrative practice, notificaciones inform citizens about resolutions, administrative fines, changes in regulations, or procedures to be followed. In criminal and civil procedures, service of process is a form of notificación designed to guarantee due process and the right to defense.

In contemporary contexts, notificación also refers to alerts generated by information systems and services, such as push notifications, email alerts, or app notifications, intended to inform users about events, updates, or messages.

Consequences of improper notificación can include invalidation of a decision, extension or suspension of deadlines, or the need to repeat notification, depending on the rules of the jurisdiction. Distinctions exist between notificación and simple aviso, the latter being often informational without specific legal consequences.