Legal matters in Serbia for the Serbian diaspora
If you live abroad and have family property, an inheritance or documents to sort out in Serbia, you can usually do it without travelling. You give a power of attorney at a Serbian consulate or at a local notary with an apostille, and we handle the rest.
Inheritance and family property
Many people abroad inherit a house, apartment or land in Serbia. We open or join the probate proceedings, obtain the decision on inheritance and register the property in your name.
Older properties are sometimes not properly recorded in the cadastre. We find out what is registered and what needs to be corrected.
Selling or buying property
We can sell or buy property in Serbia on your behalf. We check the buyer's payment, attend the notary and follow the registration and taxes.
- Title check and cadastre extract
- Notarised sale contract
- Payment to your account in Serbia or abroad
- Registration in the cadastre
- Tax filings
Wills, divorce and recognition of foreign judgments
We draft wills that cover property in Serbia. If you were divorced abroad, the foreign judgment must be recognised in Serbia before it is entered in the Serbian marriage register.
Power of attorney from abroad
A power of attorney can be certified at a Serbian embassy or consulate, or at a local notary. A document certified by a foreign notary usually needs an apostille, unless an agreement between Serbia and that country waives it.
For sale of property and some other acts, the power of attorney must be specific. We send you the exact text to sign.
How we handle it
- Write to usDescribe the situation in English or Serbian. We reply within 24 hours on working days.
- Plan and written offerWe explain the steps, the documents and the fees under the Attorney Tariff.
- Power of attorneyWe send you the text, and you certify it at a consulate or a local notary with an apostille.
- Work in SerbiaWe deal with notaries, courts, the cadastre and the tax authority.
- CompletionYou receive the final decisions and registration documents, with explanations in English.
What to send us
- Passport or Serbian ID card
- Birth certificate (Serbian extract, if available)
- Death certificate of the deceased, for inheritance
- Cadastre extract or address of the property
- Foreign divorce judgment with apostille, if recognition is needed
- Power of attorney certified at a consulate or notary
- Serbian personal ID number (JMBG), if you have one
Frequently asked questions
Can I deal with an inheritance in Serbia without travelling?
Yes. With a power of attorney we can represent you in probate, register the property and file the tax return. You do not need to attend in person.
Where can I certify a power of attorney for Serbia?
At a Serbian embassy or consulate, or at a notary in your country. A foreign notarial certification usually needs an apostille, unless your country has an agreement with Serbia that waives it.
Can I sell my parents' house in Serbia from abroad?
Yes, once the property is registered in your name after probate. We sign the contract before a notary on your behalf and the buyer's payment goes to your account.
My divorce was in another country. Is it valid in Serbia?
A foreign divorce involving a Serbian citizen has effect in Serbia once it is recognised by a Serbian court. Without recognition, the Serbian registers still show you as married.
The property is not registered in the cadastre. What can be done?
It is often possible to register it on the basis of old contracts, decisions or long possession. We first check what exists in the records and then propose the procedure.
Do I need a Serbian bank account to receive the sale price?
No, the price can also be paid to an account abroad, in line with foreign exchange rules. We agree the payment method with the buyer in the contract.
How are your fees set?
Fees follow the Serbian Attorney Tariff. You receive a written offer before work starts, and notary fees and taxes are paid separately.
Talk to a lawyer
Describe your case in a few sentences. We reply within 24 hours on working days and tell you whether and how we can help.
- srdjan@bogiceviclaw.com
- +381 65 678 4991
- Viber
- +381 63 104 9891