Lawyer and notary
The lawyer checks the deal and represents you. A notary certifies signatures and documents, such as your power of attorney at home. Georgia does not require a notary for the sale contract itself.
A property lawyer in Georgia. Independent of the developer, briefed in writing.
In short
In Georgia only a member of the Georgian Bar Association is a lawyer. For a property purchase, choose one who does not work for the developer or agent on your project. Check membership on gba.ge and agree the scope and fee in writing before work starts. The German Embassy in Tbilisi publishes a non-binding list of lawyers, several of them giving German as a correspondence language.
Four steps to a lawyerA lawyer recommended by the developer may still be good. But they must disclose any conflict of interest to you at once, such as a mandate from the developer.
What the brief should coverChoosing
Four steps to a lawyer of your own.
Start looking before you reserve. A lawyer brought in after the deposit has little left to save.
- 1
Draw up a shortlist
The German Embassy in Tbilisi publishes a list of lawyers, agents and notaries dated February 2023. It is non-binding, carries no guarantee and covers firms in Tbilisi. If your project is in Batumi, ask each firm whether it works there regularly.
- 2
Check admission
Under the Law on Lawyers, only a member of the Georgian Bar Association is a lawyer. Membership is open to Georgian citizens with a law degree, a passed qualification exam and a one-year adaptation programme. The Bar keeps a members registry on gba.ge; check the name and firm there. Someone who calls themselves a legal adviser but is not a member is not bound by the duties in the Law on Lawyers.
- 3
Establish independence
Ask in writing whether the firm acts for the developer, the agent or other buyers in the same project. The Law on Lawyers requires lawyers to disclose a conflict of interest immediately.
- 4
Put the brief in writing
The lawyer acts under an agreement with you and must explain the costs you may incur. Insist on a written engagement covering scope, fee, language and deadlines.
What AcrossEstate is not
We publish project documents and data. That is no substitute for legal advice, and we do not recommend particular firms.
The brief
What the engagement should cover.
The more precise the brief, the easier it is to compare quotes. These items belong in it.
Title and encumbrances
The registry extract for the plot and, where it exists, the flat. Plus the developer's business register entry showing who can sign.
Building permit
Whether a permit exists, its stage and content, a check of floors and function against the brochure, and an enquiry with the municipality.
Contract and payment plan
Review of the prevailing language version, written comments on area, completion date, penalty, instalments and termination, and negotiation with the developer if you want it.
Registration
The application at the Public Service Hall, pre-registration during construction where agreed, and a check of the extract after registration.
Power of attorney
A draft in your language and Georgian, granting exactly the powers this purchase needs and no others.
Fee
Fixed fee or hourly rate, with expenses, translations and official fees shown separately. The Law on Lawyers sets no fee scale, so compare several written quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about lawyers.
Language, admission, conflicts and cost.
Are there German-speaking lawyers in Georgia?
Yes. The German Embassy's list names several firms that give German as a correspondence language, as of February 2023. The details come from the firms themselves and the embassy gives no guarantee.
Can the developer's lawyer act for me?
The Law on Lawyers bars relationships that endanger a client's interests and requires conflicts to be disclosed immediately. For your purchase, choose a firm with no link to the developer or agent.
How do I check that someone is really a lawyer?
In Georgia only a member of the Georgian Bar Association is a lawyer. Look the name up in the members registry on gba.ge. If in doubt, ask the Bar directly.
What does a property lawyer in Georgia cost?
It depends on the scope, and the Law on Lawyers contains no fee scale. Get two or three written quotes for the same brief and check what each includes.
Can my lawyer complete the purchase for me under a power of attorney?
Yes, many buyers abroad take this route. Limit the power of attorney to this flat and these steps, and ask to see every document before it is signed.
Last reviewed on November 2, 2026. Sources: Law of Georgia on Lawyers, Arts. 1, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 19 (matsne.gov.ge, version of 4 March 2026), Georgian Bar Association (gba.ge): membership requirements and members registry, German Embassy Tbilisi (tiflis.diplo.de): list of lawyers, agents and notaries, as of 02/2023. This guide is not legal or tax advice.
Read next
More on protecting your purchase.
The clauses in the sale contract, buying under a power of attorney and the role of agents.
Instruct a lawyer before the deposit.
Send the registry extract, the permit and the draft contract as soon as you have a flat in view.