Legal services overseas - who to contact when buying international property

Whenever you buy overseas properties there are numerous legal professionals you must hire to carry out the transaction. The cost of legal services overseas will add to the overall price of your home but it is worth ensuring you proceed within the law and avoid costly mistakes. In many places it is not a requirement to have a solicitor act for you when buying international property but employing one is vital to avoid the pitfalls of buying property abroad.

Legal services overseas - solicitors

The first thing you must do when buying international property is to appoint a good solicitor. They should be proficient in the property law of the country where you are buying and be able to advise you of the legal and tax implications in the UK of buying overseas properties. They can also advise you how the transaction should proceed.

The legal services overseas which you employ when buying international property should be bilingual. You should instruct them with the advice your UK solicitor gave you about how to buy properties overseas. Many UK firms also offer legal services overseas. Working with the same firm in the UK and overseas may make things proceed more smoothly.

One such expert, John Howell & Co, is a UK-based firm specialising in international law and has many years experience providing legal services overseas.

Legal services overseas - what your solicitor does

Your representative will give advice and guidance at each stage of buying overseas properties including:

• Checking the register for any debts registered against the international property
• Dealing with the payment of taxes relating to overseas properties

Legal services overseas - estate agents

In some countries, estate agents are empowered to carry out much of the legalities of buying and selling overseas properties. In most areas, however, they function in the same way as British estate agents, advertising available properties and working on behalf of potential buyers. Your solicitor should check the documentation to ensure the estate agent´s commission has not been passed onto yourself.

Legal services overseas - notaries

Notaries are public officials who specialise in property law and are a key part of the process of buying international property in most areas of Europe. Their role is to oversee the exchange, register the deeds with the land registry and ensure that the transaction is carried out in accordance with the law.

You should remember that, when buying overseas properties, something may not be in your favour but can still be perfectly legal. The notary is not there to safeguard your interests when buying international property as that responsibility falls to your solicitor.

Legal services overseas - translators

You should always employ the services of a translator when buying overseas properties. They will be able to keep you abreast of developments relating to the sale of the international property and check documents for you. When large sums of money and binding contracts are involved, it is well worth paying for all quality legal services when buying property overseas.