Notaio Ettore Sarluca is an Italian civil-law notary practising in Naples since 2003. Italian and English are spoken at the office.
What an Italian notary does
In Italy the notary is a public official appointed by the State. He drafts deeds and wills, gives them full evidentiary value, keeps the originals and issues certified copies. The notary is impartial: he acts for all parties, not for one side. Before a property transfer he checks the land registers and the cadastre and is professionally responsible for these checks. His role is therefore much broader than that of a notary public in the United States.
Buying property in Italy
- Italian tax code: every party needs a codice fiscale, which can be obtained from an Italian consulate or from the Italian tax office, also through a representative.
- Reciprocity: citizens of non-EU countries may buy property in Italy if Italians can do the same in their country; the condition does not apply to EU and EEA citizens or to foreigners holding certain Italian residence permits. The notary checks this before the deed.
- Language: deeds are written in Italian. If you do not speak Italian, the deed must be accompanied by a translation, with an interpreter if necessary; we arrange this in advance.
- Power of attorney: if you cannot come to Naples, you can appoint a representative. The power of attorney must be made before a notary (or at an Italian consulate) and, if made abroad, usually needs an apostille or legalisation and a translation. We recommend agreeing the text with us in advance.
- “Prima casa” tax relief: the reduced taxes on the purchase of a main home do not depend on citizenship; the conditions are checked case by case.
Wills and successions with an international element
For deaths from 17 August 2015, EU Regulation no. 650/2012 applies in all Member States except Denmark and Ireland. As a rule, the whole succession is governed by the law of the State where the deceased had their habitual residence at death; a person may instead choose, in a will, the law of the State of which they are a national. The European Certificate of Succession, issued in Italy by a notary, allows heirs to prove their status in other Member States.
Price deposit with the notary
At the request of either party, the price of a property sale can be paid into the notary’s dedicated account. The money is kept separate from the notary’s own assets, cannot be attached by creditors, and is released once the deed has been registered and no new encumbrances have appeared.
Services
- Property purchases and preliminary contracts
- Mortgages
- Wills and successions
- Gifts and family business transfers
- Company deeds
- Transfers and leases of businesses
- Price deposit with the notary
Requesting a quote and booking an appointment
Please describe the transaction, attaching any documents you have, using the contact form, or write to info@notaiosarluca.it. You can also call +39 081 1755 0295. Preliminary meetings can be held at the office or by video call.
Office
Viale Antonio Gramsci 19, 80122 Naples (Chiaia–Mergellina area), a few minutes’ walk from Metro Line 6 (Arco Mirelli – Piazza della Repubblica) and Metro Line 2 (Mergellina).
Office hours
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00–13:00 and 15:30–19:30
- Friday: 9:00–13:30 and 14:30–18:00