Notary Costs When Selling an Apartment
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An overview of notary fees and contract certification costs when selling an apartment in Serbia — what the notary charges, who usually pays, and what additional costs to plan for.
In short
What notary costs include
When selling an apartment, the notary public charges for confirmation, i.e. solemnization of the sales contract, and the fee depends on the value of the legal transaction and the notary public tariff. In addition, there may be extra costs for transcripts, certification of special statements, powers of attorney, spouse consent, translation, or presence of a court interpreter.
Who pays the notary
In practice it is often agreed that the buyer pays the cost of certifying the sales contract, because the buyer acquires ownership and is registered in the cadastre. However, this is not a universal rule — seller and buyer may agree a different split of costs, so the contract should clearly state who bears each cost.
- Solemnization of the sales contract — most often the buyer, unless otherwise agreed
- Spouse consent, power of attorney, or special seller statements — depends on agreement and reason they are needed
- Translation or court interpreter costs — most often the party that needs translation, unless otherwise agreed
- Costs related to loan, mortgage, or pledge statement — most often the buyer using a loan
Notary, tax, and cadastre
Notary costs are not the same as transfer tax on absolute rights. Transfer tax is 2.5% when the transaction is not subject to VAT and no tax exemption applies. The seller is legally liable for the tax, but in practice the contract often provides that the buyer bears this cost. After contract certification, the notary public submits documentation to the competent authorities through the prescribed procedure.
Which notary has jurisdiction
For real estate transfers you cannot always choose any notary public in Serbia. The contract is certified by the notary public with jurisdiction over the area where the property is located, or one of the competent notaries if there are several in that area.
Additional costs to plan for
Besides the notary fee, buyer and seller should plan other possible costs: transfer tax or VAT, agency commission if agreed, bank costs for a loan, bank valuation, mortgage, translation and court interpreter for foreigners, and obtaining additional documentation if required.
Notary cost checklist for selling
- Check approximate costs with the competent notary before signing
- Agree who pays solemnization of the sales contract
- Separate notary costs from transfer tax or VAT
- Check whether additional statements, powers of attorney, or spouse consent are required
- If the buyer is a foreigner, check translation and court interpreter costs
- If the buyer uses a loan, check bank costs, valuation, mortgage, and pledge statement
- Clearly state in the sales contract who bears each cost
Frequently asked questions
Real estate agency, Serbia
Related guides
- Documentation for Selling an Apartment in SerbiaA 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.
- Transfer Tax on Absolute RightsAn explanation of transfer tax on absolute rights when buying an apartment in Serbia — rate, tax base, who is liable, VAT, first home, and tax exemptions.
Plan sale costs in advance
LIVION guides you through documentation, notarial transfer, tax, and transaction costs so you know what you pay before signing.
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