Notaries in Bulgaria: what they do and when you need one

Official documents and institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-08-16

Two distinct functions

The first is drafting: the notary prepares the deed, verifies the identity and intention of the parties, and refuses where the law is breached. The second is certification: attesting a signature on a text you bring, or that a copy matches the original. The two carry different liability and fee regimes, so establish which one you actually need before booking.

Transactions that must be notarial

• •Sale and transfer of real property — the notarial deed is drawn up before a notary and then registered with the Registry Agency.
• •Creation of mortgages and limited rights in rem over property.
• •Powers of attorney to dispose of real property, where both the signature and the content are certified.
• •Certain declarations in inheritance matters and specific forms of will.

If you do not speak Bulgarian

The notary must be satisfied that a party understands the transaction. Where Bulgarian is not spoken, an interpreter takes part and their participation is recorded in the deed. Foreign documents are presented translated into Bulgarian and, where required, apostilled. If that preparation is missing the notary refuses — which is part of the office, not obstruction.

Preparing for the appointment

1. 1

   Say what the matter is

   The office issues a different checklist per action; 'certify a signature' and 'transfer a property' are not comparable in preparation.
2. 2

   Assemble documents

   A valid identity document, the papers relating to the transaction, and certified translations where needed.
3. 3

   Ask about the fee

   Notarial fees follow a tariff and scale with the value at stake; the office quotes your case, and no figure is given here.
4. 4

   Plan how many copies

   Several certified copies are often needed; obtaining them later means another appointment.

Frequently asked questions

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