there is a whole collection of other cartórios that deal with many different processes, which can all extend the amount of time it may otherwise have taken to complete official processes - it is safe to assume that any official documentation, or registration, will require the obligatory trip to a cartório office.

an idea for anyone planning an extended stay in rio de janeiro or across brazil would be getting an authenticated copy of his or her passport, especially if containing a visa, as this could save enormous amounts of time in case of a loss of the original document.