What if I do not have the original purchase contract?

First check which basis of acquisition is registered in the cadastre and where a copy can be obtained. Depending on the case, a copy may be requested from a notary, court, archive, or other institution involved in the transfer. If the basis of acquisition is unclear, the case should be legally verified before listing.

Is an energy certificate mandatory?

The energy passport, i.e. the building energy performance certificate, is becoming an increasingly important document. Whether it is required in a specific case depends on current regulations, building type, and building status, so it should be checked before preparing the contract.

Who pays for issuing debt certificates?

Most often the seller obtains and pays for them, as they relate to the period while they used the apartment, but the parties may agree otherwise during the sales process.

How far in advance should I prepare documentation?

It is best to verify documentation before listing, not only when a buyer appears. If there is inheritance, a mortgage, an annotation, a dispute, or a cadastre discrepancy, resolution can take significantly longer than a few weeks.

What most often delays a sale at the notary?

Most often problems with the basis of acquisition, cadastre data discrepancies, mortgage or annotation, unresolved inheritance, missing spouse's consent, improperly prepared power of attorney, or unclear payment and handover terms.

Documentation for Selling an Apartment in Serbia

Selling4 min read

Last updated: 12 June 2026

A complete guide to documentation for selling an apartment in Serbia — certificate of title, basis of acquisition, personal documents, mortgage, spouse's consent, notary, and cadastre.

In short

For selling an apartment in Serbia, it is most important that ownership and cadastre status are in order, that the seller has proof of the basis of acquisition, and that any encumbrances, mortgages, inheritance, or spouse's consent are resolved. Certificates of settled obligations, an energy passport, and additional documentation may be required depending on the apartment, buyer, bank, and notary's requirements.

Core owner documentation

Before listing, verify that cadastre data is up to date, that the owner on the property register extract matches the seller, and whether there are encumbrances, mortgages, annotations, or other restrictions that could delay the sale.

Property register extract / cadastre extract
Owner's ID card or passport
Proof of basis of acquisition: sales contract, inheritance ruling, gift contract, expropriation, or court decision
Documentation on mortgage, encumbrances, or mortgage discharge if applicable
Proof of marital status or spouse's consent if required

Additional documents by situation

Depending on the legal status of the apartment and the method of purchase, additional documents may be required. The bank, buyer, or public notary may request certificates of settled obligations, building community documentation, proof of paid property tax, or other certificates showing there are no disputed obligations.

Certificate of settled obligations to the building community if requested
Utility obligation certificates if required by the buyer, bank, or notary
Proof of paid property tax if requested
Energy passport / energy performance certificate if applicable
Inheritance documentation if the apartment was acquired by inheritance
Power of attorney if another person represents the seller

What is checked before the contract

Before signing the contract, ownership, basis of acquisition, whether the apartment is registered as a separate unit, and whether there are mortgages, annotations, court disputes, usufruct, pre-emption rights, or other encumbrances are verified. If something is unresolved, the sale may be postponed until the documentation is corrected.

Notary, tax, and cadastre

The sales contract is certified by a public notary. After certification, documentation is submitted to the relevant authorities and the buyer acquires ownership by registration in the cadastre. Transfer tax applies when the transaction is not subject to VAT and no tax exemption exists; the seller is legally liable, but in practice the cost is often contractually assigned to the buyer.

Document	Who provides it	Note
Property register extract / cadastre extract	Cadastre / public notary / electronic access	Basic check of ownership, encumbrances, and registered data
Basis of acquisition	Owner	Contract, inheritance ruling, gift, expropriation, or court decision
ID card or passport	Owner	Required for seller identification
Spouse's consent	Owner's spouse	If the apartment was acquired during marriage or marital property exists
Mortgage or encumbrance documentation	Owner / bank / cadastre	Required if there is a mortgage, annotation, or other encumbrance
Certificates of settled obligations	Seller / building manager / utility companies	On request of buyer, bank, or notary
Energy passport	Authorized person / organization	If applicable under current regulations and building type
Power of attorney	Seller / attorney-in-fact	If the seller does not sign in person

Frequently asked questions

LIVION Tim

Real estate agency, Serbia

Related guides

Check your documentation before selling

LIVION helps owners verify paperwork, prepare for sale, and avoid delays at the notary.