English-speaking lawyer · Bari, Puglia
Legal assistance in Italy for those who live abroad
Buying a home in Apulia, moving here, starting a business, dealing with an inheritance or recovering a debt in Italy – without having to speak Italian and without having to be here at every step.
- Languages
- Italian and English
- Meetings
- In our offices or by video call
- Offices
- Bari, Casamassima, Gioia del Colle
Who we help
A point of reference in Italy, with a single contact
Individuals and families
Those buying a home in Apulia, inheriting property in Italy or needing to enforce their rights before an Italian authority.
Those relocating
Retirees, professionals and families who choose to live in Apulia and need to arrange residence, housing, contracts and tax matters.
Businesses and investors
Foreign companies and investors starting a business in Italy, acquiring assets or entering into contracts with Italian counterparties.
Areas of assistance
What the Firm does
The same services the Firm offers its Italian clients, organised for those who look after their interests in Italy from another country.
Buying a home in Italy
Property checks (title, mortgages and charges, planning and land registry compliance), preliminary contract and completion deed, power of attorney for those signing from abroad, Italian tax code.
Moving to Apulia
Residence, contracts and the tax regimes available to those who relocate, including the one for foreign pensioners (art. 24-ter of the Italian Income Tax Code), in coordination with an accountant.
Starting a business in Italy
Setting up a company or a branch, beneficial ownership, contracts with suppliers, customers and landlords.
Anti-money laundering and source of funds
Preparing the documents that banks, notaries and professionals require before an investment: identification, beneficial ownership, source of funds.
Inheritance and property in Italy
Successions involving heirs or assets abroad, acceptance or renunciation of an inheritance, division and sale of inherited property.
Court auctions
Assistance for those wishing to buy a property at auction from abroad: reading the expert valuation report, due diligence, the bid and the formalities after the award.
Debts, banks and compensation
Recovery of debts owed by debtors in Italy, disputes with banks and finance companies, compensation for damage suffered in Italy.
Contracts and leases
Drafting and reviewing contracts, leases of property in Italy, dealings with building managers and tenants.
How we work
From the first call to the conclusion, even at a distance
The first meeting
In our offices or by video call: the matter is framed and the documents needed are identified.
The written quote
Before the engagement, the Firm sets out in writing its fee, foreseeable expenses and timescales.
Assistance at a distance
Documents by email or certified email (PEC), digital signature or power of attorney, regular progress updates.
Other professionals
For tax, notarial deeds, expert reports and translations, the Firm works with accountants, notaries, technical experts and translators, with the client’s consent.
The Firm
Those who look after their interests in Italy from afar need to know at all times what is happening, and why.
- A direct point of contactThe relationship with the client is handled personally by Avv. Giovanni E.D. Barnabà, admitted to the Bar of Bari (Ordine degli Avvocati di Bari).
- An international educationA period of university study abroad on the Erasmus programme, and a traineeship at the Court of Bari.
- A business perspectiveTen years at the head of a limited company before being admitted to the Bar.
- Transparent costsThe fee for the first meeting is stated in advance, and a written quote is provided before every engagement.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often
Buying property in Italy as a foreigner: do I need to come to Italy?
Not necessarily. The deed can be signed by an attorney under a notarial power of attorney granted abroad before a local notary (with an apostille, where required) or before the Italian consulate. The Firm checks in advance that the power of attorney is suitable for the deed.
Is a notary required?
Yes. In Italy the sale of a property is completed by a public deed, or by a private agreement with signatures authenticated by a notary. The notary is a public official who ensures that the deed is valid; the lawyer acts for one party only, protects that party’s interests and handles the checks and negotiations before completion.
Do I need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale)?
Yes: you need one to buy property, open a bank account and sign many contracts. It is issued by the Italian Revenue Agency or by the Italian consulate, and can also be requested through a representative.
Can I buy a home in Italy if I am not a citizen of the European Union?
As a rule, yes. For citizens of certain countries, however, the reciprocity condition applies (art. 16 of the preliminary provisions of the Italian Civil Code), and it must be checked case by case before the purchase.
Does the 7% regime for foreign pensioners also apply in Apulia?
The regime under art. 24-ter of the Italian Income Tax Code applies to those who receive foreign pensions and move their residence to certain smaller municipalities in Southern Italy, including Apulia. It has precise requirements, which are checked together with an accountant before the move.
I have inherited a property in Italy but live abroad: what should I do?
You need to decide whether to accept the inheritance, file the succession tax return and, if there is more than one heir, decide how to divide or sell the property. The Firm handles these steps at a distance too and coordinates the work with the notary and the accountant.
How much does the assistance cost?
The fee for the first meeting is stated before the appointment, in accordance with the General Terms of Use. For any subsequent engagement, the Firm provides a written quote with the fee, foreseeable expenses and timescales before starting work.
In which language is the assistance provided?
In Italian or English. Official documents are drafted in Italian; where needed, the Firm uses translators for certified translations.
How does remote consultation work?
The meeting takes place by video call, documents are exchanged by email or certified email (PEC), and deeds are signed with a digital signature or through a power of attorney. The client receives regular updates on the progress of the matter.
Contact
Tell us about your plans in Italy
A first meeting, in our offices or by video call, to frame the matter and understand which steps are needed.
segreteria@studiobarnaba.it · +39 080 964 6134 · Via De Rossi 225, 70122 Bari, Italy
Avv. Giovanni E.D. Barnabà, Studio Legale Barnabà, admitted to the Bar of Bari (Ordine degli Avvocati di Bari). The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice on any specific case.
