Notarial system and document translation in Montenegro

Montenegro operates a Latin-type notarial system. Notaries are independent professionals performing public service functions. They bear full financial liability for their actions. This is a key difference from the systems of some CIS countries: here, the notary guarantees the legal purity of the transaction, checks encumbrances, and verifies the identity of the parties.

Important: There are no Russian-speaking notaries in Montenegro. Document circulation is conducted exclusively in the Montenegrin (Serbian) language. If you do not speak the language fluently, the presence of a licensed court interpreter (sudski tumač) is mandatory by law.

Services and fees of notaries

Notaries certify real estate transactions, prepare powers of attorney, wills, and company incorporation documents. For purchase and sale transactions, the notary withholds the property transfer tax (if applicable) and registers the transaction in the cadastre.

Fees (approximate):

Simple powers of attorney and consents: from 10–20 euros per signature.
Real estate transactions: the cost depends on the property price.
- Transaction of ~100,000 euros: notary services cost approximately 350 euros.
- Large transactions: the fee may reach 5,000 euros (maximum threshold).

Taxes: When purchasing secondary real estate, residents and non-residents pay a real estate transfer tax of 3% of the assessed value of the property. The notary supervises this process.

List of notaries by city

There are about 30 licensed specialists operating in the country. Below are the contacts of some of them (validity — 2025).

Podgorica:

Andrijašević Jelena — ul. Vuka Karadžića br. 5.
Bekan Vladan — ul. Slobode 47.
Bjeković Danko — ul. Boška Buhe b.b.

Kotor:

Jovanović Sanja — Benovo 582. Tel: +382 68 333 822, email: notarsanja@gmail.com.
Kašćelan Branka — Stari grad 495. Tel: +382 69 325 151.

Herceg Novi:

Antunović Ljubica — Tel: +382 31 321-089 or +382 69 040-424.

Tip: The full registry with filtering by municipalities is available on the official website of the Montenegrin Notary Chamber. During the high season (May–September) in Budva and Tivat, book appointments 3–5 days in advance.

Court interpreters (Sudski Tumači)

Regular translation agencies or guides are not allowed to participate in notarial transactions. You need a court interpreter — a specialist accredited by the Ministry of Justice and sworn in. Their signature and seal give the translation legal force.

Interpreter fees

Written translation: ~15 euros per standard page (1,800 characters including spaces).
Oral translation (consecutive): 35–50 euros per hour.
Simultaneous interpretation: from 50 euros per hour.

Interpreter contacts (Russian language)

More than 40 Russian-language specialists are listed in the Ministry of Justice registry.

Podgorica:

Ašanin Vlado: +382 69 547 134, vlado.asanin48@gmail.com.
Vučević Svetlana: +382 68 676 943, svetlana.vucevic@t-com.me (also Ukrainian).
Kršikapa Svetlana: +382 67 240-917, svetlana.krsikapa@gmail.com.

Herceg Novi:

Bosanac Elena: +382 69 676 904, elena.bosanac@gmail.com.
Đurđević Maja: +382 68 521 593 (also English).

Bar:

Masoničić-Šotunova Raušana: +382 69 247 584.
Nedović Biljana: +382 69 255 505, biljana.nedovic@gmail.com.

Budva and Tivat:

Mitrović Vladana (Budva): +382 69 346 864, vladana.mitrovic@gmail.com.
Veljić Dragan (Tivat): +382 32 673 638.

Nikšić:

Raičević Oksana: +382 67 675 005, oksana.raicevic@gmail.com (Russian, Ukrainian, English).

Alternative: Consular Section of the Russian Embassy

Citizens of the Russian Federation can issue powers of attorney, child travel consents, and statements at the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Podgorica. This allows avoiding expenses for an interpreter and a notary.

Features:

Appointments are strictly by prior booking through the electronic system.
The document is issued immediately in Russian.
Ideal for documents intended for use in Russia.

Attention: Documents issued by the Russian consulate may not be accepted by Montenegrin authorities (banks, Ministry of Internal Affairs, tax office) without additional legalization or an apostille, as they are issued by a foreign authority. For actions within Montenegro (car or property purchase), it is more reliable to use a local notary with an interpreter.

Notarial system and document translation in Montenegro