Estate Planning · Georgia
Estate planning lawyer in Georgia
Georgian succession law combines testamentary freedom with a compulsory share for children, the surviving spouse and parents. An advocate working in this field can help you structure a will, plan the transfer of property and reduce the scope for disputes later. We introduce you to the right lawyer at no cost.
- Wills, succession and the compulsory share
- Property transfers, notarial acts and registration
- Free, no-obligation matching with an advocate
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Why this page exists
Planning an estate under the Georgian Civil Code
Estate planning in Georgia sits at the meeting point of a written Civil Code, a compulsory-share regime that protects close relatives, and a notarial system that authenticates the documents your family will rely on. Whether you are drafting a will, arranging the transfer of a flat in Tbilisi, or reviewing how Georgian succession rules interact with property you hold abroad, the detail matters: the Civil Code, in force since 1997, sets the framework, and the courts that interpret it follow a three-tier structure rather than binding precedent. An estate planning lawyer in Georgia can map your assets, test your intentions against forced heirship, and coordinate the notarial and registration steps that make a plan enforceable. Tell us about your situation and we will match you — free of charge — with a Georgian advocate whose practice covers succession, property and family wealth.
Georgia in practice
How succession and estate matters work in Georgia
Georgian succession and property law rests on a written Civil Code applied by the Common Courts rather than on binding precedent. The compulsory share, the default matrimonial regime and the notarial form of key acts together shape what an estate plan can achieve. These are the country-specific points an advocate will check first.
Succession under the Civil Code
Georgian succession law is contained in the Civil Code adopted on 26 June 1997 and in force since 25 November 1997. Private-law relations, including the transmission of property on death, are regulated primarily by that code, which is applied by the Common Courts of Georgia. Court decisions do not create binding precedent, although Supreme Court jurisprudence guides uniform interpretation.
Forced heirship: the compulsory share
Testamentary freedom in Georgia is limited by a compulsory share. Children, the surviving spouse and parents are entitled to a portion of the estate that cannot be defeated by a will. The compulsory share is calculated by reference to the heirs who would have inherited under the rules of intestate succession, so any drafting starts from that baseline.
Marriage, property and the community of acquests
Under Article 1158 of the Civil Code, property acquired by spouses during the marriage is their common property by default. Spouses may instead agree, wholly or partly, on shared or separate ownership of property acquired during the marriage. Because this default regime shapes what falls into an estate, it is a key factor when planning for a spouse’s inheritance.
Notarial authentication and the Latin-type notariat
Georgia operates a Latin-type notariat: public notaries united in the Notary Chamber of Georgia on the basis of compulsory membership and self-government. Notarial authentication is mandatory or customary for important acts, including transfers of immovable property, and notaries are subject to anti-money-laundering duties. A plan that ignores the notarial step may not be effective.
Registration through the NAPR and Public Service Halls
Rights to immovable property, and a wide range of civil-status and business records, are registered by the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR), a Legal Entity under Public Law within the Ministry of Justice. Services are delivered through Public Service Halls, Community Centres and territorial offices, enabling quick and centralised registration of property rights.
Courts, deadlines and costs in succession disputes
Ordinary justice is administered by district (city) courts at first instance, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court of Georgia as court of cassation. Proceedings are conducted in Georgian. An appeal against a first-instance civil judgment must be filed within 14 days and a cassation appeal within 21 days. A property claim attracts a state fee of 3% of the value, minimum GEL 100.
The country data on this page comes from official Georgian sources — the Constitution, the Civil Code and the Civil Procedure Code published on matsne.gov.ge, the National Agency of Public Registry and the Georgian Bar Association — consulted in 2025.
- Constitution of Georgia — Parliament of Georgia
- Civil Code of Georgia — Legislative Herald (matsne.gov.ge)
- Civil Procedure Code of Georgia — Legislative Herald (matsne.gov.ge)
- Law of Georgia on Notaries — Legislative Herald (matsne.gov.ge)
- Labour Code of Georgia — Legislative Herald (matsne.gov.ge)
- National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR)
- Georgian Bar Association — How to become a member
Common situations
Where estate plans in Georgia go wrong
Most difficulties do not come from a lack of paperwork but from rules that quietly override what a family assumed.
A will that may not hold
You have drafted a will yourself, but Georgia’s compulsory-share rules may override part of it, leaving your closest relatives with claims you never intended to arise.
Property in more than one country
Assets held in Georgia and abroad raise questions about which succession rules apply, what a Georgian notary will accept and how a foreign will is treated here.
Family disagreements after a death
When heirs disagree, positions harden quickly. Clear documentation, an early review of the estate and advice on compulsory shares reduce the room for conflict later.
How we help
Matched with the right Georgian advocate
We are not a law firm. We listen to your situation and introduce you to a specialist whose practice fits it.
Succession specialists
We match you with advocates whose daily work covers wills, intestate succession, compulsory shares and the division of estates under the Georgian Civil Code.
Property and notarial know-how
Transfers of immovable property, notarial authentication and registration with the National Agency of Public Registry are routine for the lawyers in our network.
Clear on costs
Advocates’ fees in Georgia are freely agreed with the client and there are no binding official tariffs, so you discuss the fee directly before any work begins.
Cross-border perspective
If your family, property or business touches more than one country, we look for an advocate who can coordinate Georgian succession rules with the position abroad.
Also available in
Estate planning support across Europe
Families with Georgian connections often hold assets elsewhere. Our network covers the neighbouring and most relevant European jurisdictions, so a single request can reach the right specialist.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about estates in Georgia
Do I need an estate planning lawyer in Georgia if I have already written a will?
Often yes. Georgian succession law protects a compulsory share for children, the surviving spouse and parents, so a will that leaves everything to one person may be partly ineffective. An advocate can check your draft against the Civil Code, identify who is entitled to a compulsory share and adjust the plan before it is notarised.
Which relatives cannot be excluded from an estate in Georgia?
Children, the surviving spouse and parents are entitled to a compulsory share under Georgian succession law. The share is calculated by reference to the heirs who would have inherited under the rules of intestate succession. A will therefore cannot freely disinherit those close relatives, and any planning must work around that protected portion.
Who may practise as an advocate in Georgia?
Advocacy is a single, self-governing profession. Membership of the Georgian Bar Association is compulsory under the Law of Georgia on Advocates, and candidates must hold a higher legal education, pass the Bar Qualification Examination, complete the professional adaptation programme and show a clean criminal record. A practice must be registered with the GBA within 10 days of establishment.
Is a notary involved when property changes hands in Georgia?
Georgia has a Latin-type notariat with compulsory membership of the Notary Chamber of Georgia. Notarial authentication is mandatory or customary for important acts, including transfers of immovable property, and notaries also carry anti-money-laundering duties. Registration of the right itself is then handled by the National Agency of Public Registry through Public Service Halls and territorial offices.
How long do I have to appeal in a succession dispute?
An appeal against a first-instance civil judgment must be filed within 14 days, and a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court of Georgia within 21 days. Ordinary justice runs through district (city) courts, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court as court of cassation. Proceedings are conducted in Georgian, so interpretation may be required.
What does it cost to be matched with a lawyer through your service?
Matching is free and carries no obligation. Advocates’ fees in Georgia are freely agreed between advocate and client, with no binding official tariffs, and those fees may form part of the extra-judicial costs a court orders the losing party to reimburse. Court fees in a property claim are 3% of the value, minimum GEL 100.
Next step
Tell us about your estate and we will find the right advocate
Describe your assets, your family situation and the result you want to secure, and we will match you with a Georgian advocate who handles succession and property work. The matching is free, there is no obligation to instruct, and your enquiry stays confidential.