Work With an Avvocato
English-Speaking Italian Lawyer for Foreign Buyers and Investors
Buying a home, moving to Italy, buying a business or planning tax residency — handled in English by an Italian avvocato who represents only you.
The quickest way to reach the lawyer is by email: contact@frankvest.it.com · WhatsApp +39 320 530 3351
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Why Foreign Buyers Need Their Own Lawyer in Italy
Italy's property system has no equivalent of the UK conveyancing solicitor or the US title company acting for the buyer by default. The notaio is impartial by law; the estate agent is paid by the transaction going through. Unless you appoint one, nobody at the table works only for you.
An independent avvocato fills that gap: verifying title and cadastral conformity, surfacing unpermitted works (abusi edilizi) and agricultural pre-emption rights before you commit, negotiating the compromesso, and timing the tax elections that must happen before the deed. The full scope of our services covers residential, hospitality and agricultural transactions.
02
What Working With FrankVest Looks Like
- — Direct access to the lawyer — you speak with the avvocato, not an account team, in English or Italian.
- — Fee-only, agreed upfront — a written proposal before the engagement; no commissions from sellers, agents or developers.
- — Fully remote when needed — due diligence, contracts and closing by power of attorney for clients who cannot travel; guidance for U.S. and EU investors.
- — Tax-regime planning — relocation structuring under the flat tax and 7% pensioner regime, coordinated with tax counsel in your home country.
- — Inheriting property in Italy — for heirs living abroad: succession declaration, acceptance of the estate, transfer of title or sale.
- — Couples of different nationalities — which law governs your property as a couple and how title is recorded when you buy.
The founder, Avv. Francesco L. Costi, is registered with the Ordine degli Avvocati di Cassino; the firm operates from Rome as Cdc Law (P.IVA 18210921005). More about the practice on the About page.
“You talk to the lawyer, not a sales team. No brokerage commissions, no conflicts of interest.”
Avv. Francesco L. Costi
Member of the Italian Bar — Ordine degli Avvocati di Cassino
Office: Vicolo dei Granari 10/A, Rome
Speak With the Lawyer
Talk to an English-Speaking Italian Lawyer
Describe your transaction or relocation plan and get a clear picture of risks, process, and costs — before you commit to anything.
Or email the lawyer directly: contact@frankvest.it.com
Italian avvocato · Ordine degli Avvocati di Cassino · English & Italian · Remote closing by power of attorney · No commissions from sellers or agents · First call by video · Rome office by appointment only
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Italy, or is the notary enough?
The Italian notary (notaio) is a public official who is impartial by law — the notary does not represent you and does not negotiate for you. A lawyer acting only for the buyer checks title and building compliance, negotiates the preliminary contract, structures the purchase fiscally, and protects your deposit. Most problems foreign buyers face arise in the phase before the notary is even involved.
Can you assist me if I am not in Italy?
Yes. Consultations, due diligence, negotiation and contract work are handled remotely in English. For the closing, a notarised power of attorney lets the transaction complete without your physical presence in Italy.
I'm not American, British or European. Can you help?
Yes. Italian property law applies in the same way to every foreign buyer, but whether you can buy depends on your citizenship and residence: citizens of countries that allow Italians to buy property there (the reciprocity condition), and foreigners living in Italy with certain residence permits, can buy. Write to us with your citizenship(s) and country of residence and we will tell you how the rule applies to you before you commit.
How much does an English-speaking Italian lawyer cost?
FrankVest works fee-only: a written fee proposal based on the scope of the transaction is agreed before the engagement starts. There are no percentages hidden in the price of the property, no brokerage commissions and no compensation from sellers or agents.
What credentials should I check before hiring an Italian lawyer?
Verify that the professional is an avvocato registered with an Italian Bar association (Ordine degli Avvocati) — registration is public and can be checked with the local Ordine. FrankVest's founder, Avv. Francesco L. Costi, is a member of the Ordine degli Avvocati di Cassino and works in English and Italian.