Which Inquisition secretary recorded the accused person's possessions at detention?

The Inquisition secretary who recorded an accused person’s possessions at detention was the notario de secuestros.

The title literally refers to the notary of sequestration or property seizure. When someone was detained, this official made an inventory of the person’s possessions so the tribunal could place them under confiscatory control. The record could include household goods, money, land, livestock, business assets, and other property.

This job was distinct from the notario del secreto, who documented the statements of defendants and witnesses. The Escribano General served as the tribunal’s general court secretary, while the calificador was a theological expert who assessed whether behavior or beliefs might constitute heresy.

Property records mattered because confiscation was built into the Inquisition’s financial system. Tribunals did not simply investigate doctrine; they could seize the assets of accused or convicted people, sometimes leaving families impoverished. That financial dimension also created opportunities for abuse and helps explain why the bureaucracy required separate officials for detention, testimony, general paperwork, and property administration.