Property Verification in Serbia: How to Protect Yourself When Buying an Apartment
Buying real estate is a serious step—whether you’re purchasing an apartment, a house, or land. While the eCadastre offers basic information, property verification needs to go further to protect you from risks like double sales or unregistered ownership.
What is property verification and how does it work?
Most often, the verification process starts with the eCadastre, where ownership can be checked using the parcel number or exact address and municipality. However, if ownership hasn’t yet been officially transferred—such as in the case of a new build—the cadastre won’t reflect the actual situation.
That’s why checking through a notary is essential.
Why is a notary necessary?
Since 2014, all real estate sale contracts in Serbia must be notarized. Notaries use a special database called Libra, which contains records of:
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Sale and pre-sale contracts
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Deposits
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Any legal transaction related to a specific property
Libra: the buyer’s invisible shield
Even if a property is not registered in the cadastre, it’s still possible to check whether it has already been sold or reserved. Access to Libra is exclusive to notaries, which is why it’s crucial that buyers engage a legal expert and submit documents for verification.
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What does the property verification process look like?
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Collect all documents related to the property (contracts, pre-contracts, info about the developer).
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Send the documents to a selected notary.
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The notary checks the Libra database for any prior transactions involving the property.
Conclusion: Safe property verification begins with a notary
The eCadastre is helpful but not enough. If a property isn’t registered, there’s no way to confirm ownership through cadastre records. The notarial Libra database is the only reliable tool for determining whether a property verification truly checks out.
🔒 So, before signing anything—verify the property with professionals.
Need help?
The Stojković Attorneys real estate team is here to protect your interests. Contact us to verify any property before buying.
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