In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Erm...did my reply satisfy your curiosity by the way?! :)
I hope that I did not confuse you even more!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I paid nothing in legal fees, someone I know did the work for me then offered it to me as a present for coming to Italy. The last time I had a solicitor do work for me in the UK, to buy a new house the total legal fees came to £300 + IVA (17.5%).
English solicitors are expensive but I think the legal system in Italy goes beyond expensive. Maybe all Italians are millionaires? I used to be a millionaire but then the Lira was replaced by the Euro.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We did not involve a lawyer when we signed the compromesso. It was in English & Italian and was very simple.
We used one when we signed the Atto. He translated the deed, answered all of our questions (very importatnt as we did not yet live here nor speak Italian) and translated on the day. It cost around €2000. To us that seems expensive ( not him particularly as we know other people who paid around the same).
The big bill is for wills. We have been quoted 3% of the cost of the property. That is an outrageous cost. In the UK a will is a couple of hundred pounds or you can write one and not involve a lawyer at all. I remember reading in Italymag that you may write a will in Italy in your own hand and not involve a lawyer and it is legal. Is this true?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Our Lawyers have been John Howell and Co/London.
All work has been conducted for a fixed fee - around €2000.00.
This includes the services of an associate from JMU-Law Studio in Florence to attend at the completion
The land and structural survey cost a further €1500.00
Thats the lot
Ian and Sandra
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=Penny]We did not involve a lawyer when we signed the compromesso. It was in English & Italian and was very simple.
We used one when we signed the Atto. He translated the deed, answered all of our questions (very importatnt as we did not yet live here nor speak Italian) and translated on the day. It cost around €2000. To us that seems expensive ( not him particularly as we know other people who paid around the same).
The big bill is for wills. We have been quoted 3% of the cost of the property. That is an outrageous cost. In the UK a will is a couple of hundred pounds or you can write one and not involve a lawyer at all. I remember reading in Italymag that you may write a will in Italy in your own hand and not involve a lawyer and it is legal. Is this true?[/QUOTE]
3% for value of the cost th property for a WILL????
Who did you meet, Jessie James ?
Talaking about wills, you can write a testamento olografo, that has no cost, is fully valid under italian law.
It must be written totally by you, with date and signature.
Another kind of will is "testamento notarile" that is prepared and conserved by a notary.
It's valid as olografo, but with it the law is sure that it has been signed in that day, by that person and with a legal advice.
The cost is no more than €. 200/400
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Thank you very much. I knew those figures weren't right!!
Is there anything special we should say in a "testamento olografo"?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=Penny]Thank you very much. I knew those figures weren't right!!
Is there anything special we should say in a "testamento olografo"?[/QUOTE]
There are not "magic words" or "ritual slogan" to write.
It's only necessary to be the clearest possible.
Remember that it must be "your" will.
Sometimes happens that the spouses write a joined will as a sole person.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
we used only local italian professionals in our house buying the drafting of the compromesso was simple... we agreed to buy the place by a certain date... providing everything we had been told and promised was fixed by that date.... and when we actually purchased the house the notary had checked and everyone involved in the sale agreed that the house is as it was with no debt problems etc... attached to it and was theirs to sell... we still own the house... nothing has appeared that shouldnt have ... we paid exactly 0% to uk solicitors and were very happy with all the italians who helped us through the process... obviosly apart from the bills... but we payed a total of nothing to do the compromesso... and around e2000 for the rest of the legalities... then the tax on top
since then we have known four or five people that have bought here... the compromesso has always been translated into english for them at the time ... usual cost nothing.... the final act translated into written english and read...both italian and english versions... the english version being signed by the interpreter as a true and truthful version of the italian original... a notary will not let anyone sign this act without them understanding it.. cost of the translation...around e150-200 depending on the lenght and complexity...
i think in general most italians ... and you will know this better than i ... will have the compromesso written and signed and that is in general part of the costs that the agents accept in their fees... either from the owner or buyer or both... and is in general not an extra cost to the house purchase... the final act in front of the notary generally is paid for by the buyer... the whole system is pretty straight forward and uncomplicated apart from the fact that the wording is a bit obscure... much like any legal document even in england..
the extra cost of the uk solicitor is something that one either chooses or not for your own piece of mind... but in fact there is nothing develish in the italian system ... and if you have a problem with italian but not in your belief in the system or your ability to do things independently then a good option will be choosing an english italian interpreter.. independant of agents to go through and transalate what you sign... they also have to sign and are responsable for their translation.... if you want get two... its still cheaper than the uk solicitor
Nothing in England is cheap! :) :) :)
I can only judge by my own experience: John Howell charges by an hourly rate to the work done (depending on the seniority of the lawyer, they would charge you from £200 p/h upwards). Other firms will give you a fixed estimate, which varies from £2000 upwards + VAT.
Another Avvocato near Heathrow quoted me a set fee equivalent to 4% of the value of the property.
As you can see, it is definitely worth shopping around and I spent one full afternoon calling all the Italian law firms which were listed in the Law Society register.
We then based our choice not only on the price quoted but also on the recommendations of other forumers! this is why I think that this forum is great!