Lawyer, Notary, Engineer: Who You Need to Buy Land in Kefalonia

To buy a plot in Kefalonia you need three professionals of your own: a lawyer for the title, an engineer for the land itself, and a notary for the contract. An accountant is optional, and so is a tax representative. Bring in the lawyer and the engineer before you commit to anything, and the notary last.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. It is part of our guide to buying land in Kefalonia.

Who does what?

Professional	What they do for you	When
Lawyer	Gets your tax number if needed, checks the seller's title and encumbrances, drafts or reviews the agreements, can sign for you with a power of attorney	First
Engineer	Checks what can be built on the plot, its boundaries and access, and whether there are unauthorised works; issues the engineer's certificate the sale requires	Before you commit
Notary	Drafts the contract and checks the documents the law requires before signing	At the end
Accountant	Tax filings later, for example if you rent out; optional	After the purchase

Do I need a lawyer?

In practice, yes. Today the law does not require a lawyer at the signing of a property contract, but a draft of the new Lawyers' Code, published in September 2026, would make one compulsory for contracts above €50,000. It is not law yet.

The case for a lawyer does not depend on that draft. Someone has to check, on your side, that the seller owns what they are selling, that there are no mortgages or claims on it, and that the paperwork matches the land. For a foreign buyer, the lawyer is also the person who can act for you in Greece:

Tax number (AFM). Your lawyer can get it for you with a power of attorney. You can also get it yourself by video call with the tax authority.
Power of attorney. If you will not be in Greece for every step, your lawyer can sign for you. The power of attorney can be signed at a Greek consulate.
Bank. If you take a mortgage, a Greek bank may ask for a lawyer registered with a Greek bar association to act for you. See mortgages for foreign buyers.

Choose a lawyer who works for you only, not for the seller as well.

Why do I need my own engineer?

Because most problems with land in Greece are technical, not legal. A plot can have a clean title and still be unbuildable, smaller than the deed says, without legal road access, or partly inside a forest map. Your engineer checks:

whether the plot is inside or outside the town plan, and what may be built on it (see inside vs outside the town plan);
its boundaries and area against the topographic diagram;
road access and utilities;
any buildings on the plot, against their permits.

The law also needs an engineer at every sale. Under Article 368 of the Spatial and Urban Planning Code, each sale, even of a plot with no building, needs an engineer's certificate, valid for two months, and in most cases a topographic diagram. The seller's engineer usually issues it. Your own engineer is the one who checks it for you. See unauthorised works in Greece.

If you plan to build, the same engineer can later design the house and file the permit. See building a house in Kefalonia.

What does the notary do?

The notary drafts the purchase contract and checks the documents the law requires, among them the engineer's certificate and the record that the price is paid through a bank. Cash payments are not accepted for property.

If you do not read Greek, ask the notary in advance how the contract will be translated for you, and ask your lawyer to review the draft before the signing day.

Do I need an accountant or a tax representative?

Not to buy. Since May 2024, a buyer who lives abroad does not have to appoint a tax representative in Greece, provided they accept notices from the tax authority at the contact details they have declared. An accountant becomes useful later, for example when you rent the property out.

In what order?

Lawyer. Before you agree a price in writing. They start the title search and, if needed, your tax number.
Engineer. In parallel, before you commit. They visit the plot and report on what can be built.
Agreement with the seller. Only once the lawyer and the engineer have no objections.
Notary. For the contract. Your lawyer sends the notary what is needed.
After signing. The contract is registered with the Cadastre; your lawyer follows this through.

How do I choose them?

Ask for a written fee quote from each one before they start, with what is included.
Check that they work only for you. A lawyer or engineer who also acts for the seller has a conflict.
Ask how they will report to you, and in which language.
Ask for a written report from the engineer, not only a phone call.

On PlotX, buyers always choose their own lawyer, notary and engineer. Buyers pay a 1% platform fee and sellers pay nothing. Browse plots on the Kefalonia land for sale page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a lawyer compulsory to buy property in Greece? Not at present. A draft of September 2026 would make a lawyer compulsory for contracts above €50,000, but it is not law yet. A lawyer is still strongly advisable, especially for a foreign buyer.

Can the seller's engineer do the checks for me? The seller's engineer issues the certificate the sale requires. Your own engineer checks the plot, and that certificate, on your behalf.

Who chooses the notary? Ask your lawyer. On PlotX, the buyer chooses their own notary.

Do I need a tax representative? No, if you accept notices from the tax authority at the contact details you have declared.

Can I do it all from abroad? Yes, with a power of attorney to your lawyer. For land, we still recommend at least one visit to the plot.