Real estate lawyer in Batumi: checks, agreements, registration of the transaction
A real estate lawyer in Batumi works before ownership passes: checks the apartment and the seller against the Public Registry, drafts the preliminary and main agreements, sets up the payment procedure and files the documents for registration. You receive the translation of both agreements in advance and sign only what you have read. The deal can also be done by power of attorney. Full support from 2 220 ₾ per property.
from 2 220 ₾legal support for the transaction per property, excluding registry and notary fees. The final price is confirmed once agreed.
- Timeline: a transaction with legal support usually takes 1–3 weeks from choosing the apartment to the extract showing your ownership
- Warranty: We are responsible for the check we carried out
Who it’s for
You are buying an apartment in Georgia for the first time and do not know the local rules
The seller's agent runs the deal and nobody represents your side
You are buying from abroad through a representative with power of attorney
The developer has sent an instalment agreement that needs reading before signing
You want a second opinion on the documents before paying a deposit
What’s included
- a Public Registry extract and its review
- checking the seller and their authority
- a preliminary agreement with a deposit
- the payment scheme and a check of the recipient's account
- the main agreement with a translation into your language
- support at the signing
- filing for registration and the extract showing your ownership
- the text of the power of attorney if you will not come
Real estate lawyer in Batumi: why you need one if the deal is simple
You need a real estate lawyer in Batumi not because Georgian law is complicated. Quite the opposite: the agreement and registration at the Public Registry go through so quickly that a mistake is usually noticed only after ownership has passed. The lawyer works before that moment: checks the apartment and the seller, drafts the preliminary and main agreements, sets up the payment procedure and files the documents for registration. You sign only what you have read in your own language. What full transaction support includes is on the transaction support page.
What the lawyer does, step by step
- obtains a Public Registry extract and checks the owner, area and encumbrances;
- checks the seller: passport, power of attorney, consent of other owners;
- prepares the preliminary agreement with the deposit and deadlines;
- agrees the payment scheme and the recipient's account with you;
- prepares the main agreement and a translation into your language;
- attends the signing at the Public Service Hall or a notary;
- files the documents for registration and hands you the extract showing your ownership.
How we check the documents is on the apartment document check page. What the main agreement should contain is covered on the purchase agreement page.
Scope of work: from a consultation to a full transaction
| What you hand over | What it includes | When it suits |
|---|---|---|
| One-off consultation | Answers on your deal, review of documents you already have | An agent or developer runs the deal, you want a second opinion |
| Property check | Extract, seller, encumbrances, debts, the developer for a new build | The apartment is chosen, a decision is needed before the deposit |
| Transaction support | Check, both agreements, payment, signing, registration | A first purchase in Georgia or a purchase from abroad |
| Developer contract review | Instalments, deadlines, penalty, refunds | Buying a new build on an instalment plan |
The price, deposit and deadline for the main deal are fixed by the preliminary agreement, and most of our transactions start with it.
Whose lawyer is it
An important question that is rarely asked: whose side is the lawyer on. The developer and the seller's agency have their own lawyers, and they protect their client. That is normal, but nobody represents your side in such a deal. We work with a partner lawyer who signs an agreement with you and answers to you. If the deal already has a lawyer on the seller's side, we do not duplicate their work but read their documents from your position and propose amendments. You sign the agreement with us before work starts, and it states the scope and the price.
Language and translation
The agreement registered by the Public Registry is drawn up in Georgian. If you do not speak the language, a translation is needed alongside the Georgian text, and an interpreter is usually present at the signing. We send the translation of both agreements in advance, several days before signing, so that you have time to ask questions. We advise nobody to sign a text they see for the first time on the day of the deal, even if the seller is in a hurry. We separately check that the price, area, cadastral code, deadlines and deposit refund terms match in the translation and the original: that is where mistakes most often hide.
A transaction without you coming over
If you cannot come, the transaction is carried out by your representative under a power of attorney. It is signed before a notary in your country, apostilled or consularly legalised and translated into Georgian. Since 20 October 2023, a transaction under a power of attorney issued abroad is registered only in notarial form, so a Georgian notary is added to the costs. We agree the text of the power of attorney in advance so that it does not have to be redone, and you transfer the money from your own account directly to the owner.
What a lawyer does not do
A lawyer checks documents and drafts agreements but does not see the mould behind the wardrobe or the crack in the screed. That needs an engineer: they inspect the apartment before the deal, and for a new build again at handover from the developer; more on the apartment handover from the developer page. Nor does a lawyer value the property: if the market value is needed for a bank or for a residence permit, an accredited appraiser provides it in their report. And the lawyer does not choose the apartment for you: they tell you what you are risking, and the decision to buy or not remains yours.
How much a real estate lawyer costs
Full legal support for the transaction costs from 2 220 ₾ per property. A legal due diligence check of one property from 960 ₾, drafting the purchase agreement with translation from 660 ₾, review of an instalment or loan agreement from 660 ₾. Arranging the power of attorney, apostille and translations for a deal from abroad from 390 ₾, a one-off lawyer consultation of up to an hour from 155 ₾. Registry and notary fees are paid separately at their own rates. The final cost is set after reviewing the transaction and agreeing the scope of work.
Stages and timelines
-
Review
1–2 days
Property, seller, your goal.
-
Check
2–5 days
Extract, encumbrances, debts.
-
Preliminary agreement
1–3 days
Price, deposit, deadlines.
-
Main agreement
2–5 days
Text, translation, payment.
-
Signing and registration
1–4 working days
Public Service Hall or notary, registry.
Local specifics in Batumi
Batumi has many buyers from other countries, and the market is used to it: developers provide agreements in Russian and English, agencies speak several languages. But it is the Georgian text that has legal force, and that is what the Public Registry registers. Discrepancies between the translation and the original occur more often than you might think, usually in deadlines, penalties and refund terms.
The market here is fast. A good apartment by the sea can go within days, and the seller presses for a deposit. So we start the check straight away, get a registry extract the same day and name the risks before you transfer money. If the seller is not prepared to wait two or three days for a check, that too tells you something about the deal.
Materials and brands
What you receive: a Public Registry extract with every entry explained, a report on the property and seller check, the preliminary agreement and the main purchase agreement in Georgian with a translation into your language, a payment scheme with the recipient's account details, the text of the power of attorney if a representative carries out the deal, and the extract showing your registered ownership after the deal. For a new build, additionally a review of the developer's agreement: payment schedule, completion date, penalty and refund terms.
What makes up the cost
Timeline: a transaction with legal support usually takes 1–3 weeks from choosing the apartment to the extract showing your ownership
- type of property, number of parties and payment scheme
What raises the cost
- a deal by power of attorney from abroad
- several owners or a company as seller
- a new build with an instalment agreement
- encumbrances that must be removed before the deal
What lowers the cost
- a resale apartment with one owner and a clean extract
- you attend the signing yourself
We prepare the exact estimate from measurements and photos. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Get an estimateGuarantees
We are responsible for the check we carried out. If after the deal an encumbrance surfaces that was visible in the extract on the day of signing, the partner lawyer is liable under the agreement with you. We do not promise outcomes that depend on the seller, the bank or the developer.
Questions and answers
How much does a real estate lawyer in Batumi cost?
Full transaction support costs from 2 220 ₾ per property, a legal due diligence check from 960 ₾, a purchase agreement with translation from 660 ₾, a consultation of up to an hour from 155 ₾. The Public Registry fee and the notary are paid separately at their own rates, with no markup from us. The final cost is set after reviewing the transaction and agreeing the scope of work.
Do I need my own lawyer if the seller or developer provides one?
Their lawyer protects their interests, and that is normal. But nobody fights for your terms in such an agreement, such as a deposit refund, a penalty for late completion or the payment procedure. We read the documents from your side and propose amendments before signing. Two or three clauses are often enough to make the agreement balanced.
Can the deal be done without coming to Georgia?
Yes. You sign a power of attorney before a notary in your country, have it apostilled or consularly legalised and send us the original. Since 20 October 2023, a transaction under a power of attorney issued abroad is registered only in notarial form, so we carry it out with a Georgian notary. We agree the text of the power of attorney in advance so that it works first time.
What language will the agreement be in?
The agreement registered by the Public Registry is drawn up in Georgian. You receive a translation into your language in advance, several days before signing, and can ask about every clause. At the signing before a notary or at the Public Service Hall, an interpreter is usually required for a party who does not speak Georgian. We advise against signing a text you are seeing for the first time.
What happens if the check finds a problem?
It depends on the situation. A bank mortgage is often paid off from the buyer's money on the day of the deal, and that can be safely written into the agreement. If a second owner's consent is missing, we wait for it. If the extract shows an attachment or a dispute, we advise not paying a deposit until the entry is removed. The decision is always yours; we explain the consequences of each option.
Terms used on this page
- Public Registry extract
- A document from Georgia's state registry: the owner, cadastral code, area, legal use and encumbrances of a property on the date of issue.
- Cadastral code
- The number of a plot, building or unit in Georgia's Public Registry, unique to each property; used to get an extract and check the subject of a deal.
Further reading
Send the listing link or cadastral code: we will tell you what to check within 24 hours
We reply within an hour during business hours. Message us or leave a request: we’ll call you back, go over the details and suggest the next step.
Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat 11:00–16:00