Who pays the notary and translation fees?

In Montenegrin real estate transactions, the buyer typically bears the cost of notary and translation services, though the parties are free to agree otherwise in their contract.
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Notary fees are set by an official tariff regulated by the Notary Chamber of Montenegro (Notarska Komora) and scale with the transaction value. The fee structure is transparent, with all fees subject to 21% PDV (VAT).
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Official Notary Tariff Structure (effective until January 2026):
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For property values up to €120,000:

• €0 - €5,000: Base fee €70
• €5,001 - €20,000: Base fee €120
• €20,001 - €40,000: Base fee €170
• €40,001 - €60,000: Base fee €250
• €60,001 - €80,000: Base fee €300
• €80,001 - €120,000: Base fee €350

For property values over €120,000:

• Base fee starts at €350
• For every €15,000 increment above €120,000, add €10
• Maximum base fee: €5,000
• All base fees are subject to 21% PDV (VAT)

Example calculations (base tariff + 21% PDV only):

• Property value €100,000: Base tariff €350 + PDV €73.50 = €423.50
• Property value €250,000: Base tariff €440 + PDV €92.40 = €532.40
• Property value €500,000: Base tariff €610 + PDV €128.10 = €738.10
• Property value €1,000,000: Base tariff €940 + PDV €197.40 = €1,137.40

Important: These figures show only the base notary tariff. Actual notary invoices will include additional variable costs: multiple copies of contracts (charged per copy), contract length (longer contracts incur higher fees), administrative charges (taksa, registry fees), and other notarial services. The total notary fee can vary significantly based on these factors. Your notary can provide an exact quote including all applicable fees once they know the purchase price, transaction details, and number of copies required.

Note: The official tariff is scheduled for revision in January 2026. Contact your notary for updated rates after this date.

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Understanding preliminary vs. main contract fees: Montenegro property transactions often use two contracts: a preliminary contract (predugovor) followed by the main sale contract. The preliminary contract is charged at 50% of the full notary tariff. When you later sign the main contract with the same notary, that fee is also 50% of the full tariff—so you're effectively paying the full tariff split across both signings.

The notary prepares the contracts, verifies identities, confirms that both parties understand the terms, and issues the Clausula Intabulandi once payment obligations are fulfilled. Additional fees apply for contract amendments (annexes), typically 25% of the base tariff for each annex.

Sworn court translator fees are required when any party to the transaction does not speak Montenegrin fluently. The translator provides oral translation during the signing ceremony and may also translate written documents. Typical costs: oral translation during signing runs €35-50 per hour (usually 1-2 hours total), while written translation of the contract costs approximately €20 per page, typically €120-200 for a standard residential sale contract.

These fees are separate from and in addition to the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT), legal due diligence fees, and any agency commission. Together with other ancillary costs, they typically add 1-3% to the headline purchase price.

While buyer-pays is the standard practice, nothing prevents the parties from agreeing that the seller will cover some or all of these costs, or that they will be split. Any such arrangement should be clearly stated in the preliminary agreement or the final contract to avoid confusion. Your lawyer or agent can advise on what is customary in your specific municipality and transaction type.