Real estate registration in visual law: an exploratory study to optimize access to extrajudicial procedures

Abstract

This study’s research objective is to analyze the application of Legal Design and Visual Law methodologies, derived from Design Thinking, as tools for optimizing access to extrajudicial services within the Brazilian Real Estate Registry system, particularly through the redesign of property registration certificates. The central hypothesis is that implementing these methodologies can make registrar documents more accessible and comprehensible to users, thereby enhancing user-centered communication and transparency in notarial and registral services. The research employs a mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach, described as descriptive and empirical, including: document analysis (focused on relevant legislation and real property certificates – specify sample size); bibliographic review (interdisciplinary theoretical framework); development and evaluation of visual prototypes of property certificates. The methodology combines content analysis with empirical observation of the practical application of the proposed models. The findings support the initial hypothesis, indicating that Legal Design and Visual Law significantly enhance user comprehension and promote substantive accessibility to registral information. As a contribution, the study introduces a novel communicational framework for property registration documents, aligning extrajudicial practices with principles of plain language, user-centered design, and public innovation. Future research should explore these approaches within the context of the digital folio and the evolution of electronic registries.