Usucaption in Romania

Real estate attorney in Romania. What is usucaption in Romania?

Usucaption in Romania represents a way to acquire ownership of real estate in Romania and other primary real rights by exercising uninterrupted possession over a property, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified by law.

Usucaption in Romania serves a practical utility due to its nature as an original method of acquiring ownership of real estate in Romania as evidenced by its ability to serve as conclusive proof of ownership of real estate in Romania, thereby alleviating existing difficulties in proving ownership of real estate in Romania, both in actions for recovery and in other legal matters. Usucaption in Romania is also referred to as aquisitive prescription meaning that the passage of time has a constitutive effect on rights acquisition.

Landlord and tenant lawyer in Romania. The parties

Usucaption in Romania is a real action and can be brought to court by any person claiming to have exercised effective possession over an immovable property for the period of time prescribed by law. This person initiates the action as the claimant, suing the true owner of the property in question regarding usucaption in Romania, with the true owner being the defendant in the lawsuit.

Real estate lawyer in Romania. Legal basis

Usucaption in Romania is expressly regulated in the Civil Code in articles 930-934. These articles provide a general framework regarding usucaption in Romania and the acquisition of fruits, goods that cannot be acquired through usucaption in Romania or aquisitive prescription types of usucaption in Romania, and the running of the usucaption in Romania period.

Although usucaption in Romania is an institution regulated by the New Civil Code, in actions concerning the declaration of usucaption in Romania, the Old Civil Code from 1864 continues to apply on specific situations because the provisions of the New Civil Code relating to immovable property, usucaption in Romania apply only to cases where possession began after its entry into force –  1st October 2011. For cases where possession began before this date, the provisions relating to usucaption in Romania in force at the time possession began are applicable. In this regard, even after the entry into force of the New Civil Code, the provisions contained in articles 1890 and subsequent articles of the Old Civil Code will apply in the case of an action usucaption in Romania.

Alandlord and tenant lawyer in Romania, property attorney in Romania or real estate lawyer in Romania can assist you in correctly determining the applicable civil law and initiating usucaption in Romania within the valid timeframe.

Lawyer sales agreement in Romania. The goods that cannot be acquired through adverse possession

The law establishes that goods declared inalienable (goods that cannot be alienated) by law before or after possession cannot be the subject of usucaption in Romania. This category includes goods that are part of public property and some privately owned goods that have been declared inalienable by law. A clause of inalienability contained in a legal document does not have any effect in this regard. Therefore, a third-party possessor may acquire the property right in Romania through usucaption in Romania, as voluntary inalienability does not prevent adverse possession, only legal inalienability does.

Attorney for purchase agreement for house in Romania. Where is the lawsuit based on usucaption in Romania filed?

The lawsuit based on usucaption in Romania is filed in the first instance with the competent district court, regardless of the value of the property.

In terms of territorial jurisdiction, when the subject of the claim is an immovable property, the competence to hear the usucaption in Romania exclusively belongs to the court within whose jurisdiction the property is located. If the property is situated within the jurisdictions of multiple courts, the claim should be filed with the court where the defendant’s domicile or residence is located, if within any of those jurisdictions. Otherwise, the claim can be filed with any court having jurisdiction over the area where the property is located.

A landlord and tenant lawyer in Romania, property attorney in Romania or real estate attorney in Romania can guide you through the necessary steps to ensure that your claim to acquire property right in Romania through usucaption in Romania is correctly formulated and addressed to the competent district court.

The Romanian Law Firm Pavel Mărgărit and Associates recommends consulting with a real estate law firm or a lawyer specialized in usucaption in Romania, land lawyers in Romania, property attorney in Romania or real estate attorney in Romania to ensure that all procedures are properly followed and that you can legally obtain the property right in Romania of the possessed property.

The Romanian Law Firm Pavel, Margarit and Associates provides legal advice and legal assistance services in civil law, especially regarding assistance for usucaption in Romania as a way to acquire ownership of real estate in Romania . A real estate lawyer in Romania can support you in acquiring ownership of real estate in Romania through usucaption before the court, having great experience in civil litigation. In order to benefit from our professional support and for dispute resolution attorneys advice, we invite you to fill in the contact form available on our website https://avocatpavel.com/contact/.

Don’t navigate these challenges alone. Contact Us today for expert assistance tailored to your needs.

Land lawyers in Romania. Types of usucaption in Romania

Ususcaption in Romania can be movable or immovable, depending on the nature of the property. Immovable usucaption in Romania comes in two forms: extratabular usucaption in Romania and tabular usucaption in Romania.

For all these, possession is an essential condition. It must be useful (continuous, uninterrupted, and public), meaning it should not be tainted, as this leads to the suspension of the usucaption in Romania period.

In the case of extratabular usucaption in Romania, the ownership of real estate in Romania can be recorded in the land register for the benefit of the one who has exercised possession for 10 years if the owner recorded in the land register has passed away or, as the case may be, ceased to exist; if a declaration of renunciation of property right in Romania has been recorded in the land register, or if the property was not registered in any land register. The possessor in extratabular usucaption in Romania can be in good faith or in bad faith, as the law only requires the essential condition of exercising untainted possession.

Tabular usucaption in Romania, in turn, requires meeting certain conditions such as registering ownership of real estate in Romania or another real estate right in the land register without a legitimate cause; exercising useful possession (a common condition for all types of usucaption in Romania); the person recorded in the land register must have been in good faith at the time of registration of the application for registration, and possession must have been exercised for 5 years after the registration of the application.

The Romanian Law Firm Pavel Mărgărit and Associates invites you to seek the services of a real estate law firm in Romania, land lawyers in Romania, landlord and tenant lawyer in Romania, property attorney in Romania or real estate attorney in Romania to assist you with conducting a due dilligence report in Romania on the property in question to verify if it is registered in the land register, if there are any contentious rights over it, and other important aspects to ensure that the usucaption in Romania will be successful.

Attoney for purchase agreement in Romania. Long Term usucaption in Romania

The 30 years usucaption in Romania is a method of acquiring property right in Romania or another real right (such as property rights like servitudes) through uninterrupted possession, without good faith or the existence of a valid title. The institution of usucaption in Romania operates as a civil sanction that affects the owner’s rights due to their long-term inactivity, allowing another person to possess the property.

The action for usucaption in Romania is a real action that can be exercised by any person claiming to have exercised useful possession over an immovable property for 30 years. This person initiates the action against the true owner of the property right in Romania.

According to the Old Civil Code, a valid title refers to any title transferring ownership, such as a sale or exchange. A pre-sales agreement in Romania(promise of sale, bilateral promise of sale and purchase) cannot be considered a valid title because it does not transfer ownership rights; instead, it creates an obligation to perform an action in the future. Therefore, if the conditions imposed by law regarding continuous, uninterrupted, peaceful, public possession with the status of an owner are not met, useful possession cannot be established in favor of the defendants leading to usucaption in Romania.

Various situations encountered in practice have led to solutions where the court has held that, according to the principle of conversion of legal acts, a privately signed document should be classified as a pre-sale agreement (promise of sale) because the parties’ obligation is to conclude a sale and purchase agreement in Romania in the future in authentic form.

Ownership acquired through usucaption in Romania entitles the possessor to the same rights as a sale and purchase agreement in Romania or other property transfer act.

The Romanian Law Firm Pavel Mărgărit and Associates recommends seeking the services of a real estate law firm in Romania, land lawyers in Romania, landlord and tenant lawyer in Romania, property attorney in Romania or real estate lawyer in Romania who can explain your rights following the acquisition of property right in Romania through usucaption in Romania, similar to those under sales agreement in Romania or purchase agreement for house in Romania. They can also advise on the aspects to consider when dealing with a sale and purchase agreement in Romania, pre-sales agreement in Romania (promise of sale, bilateral promise of sale and purchase), and how to evaluate the property situation through a due diligence report in Romania.

Therefore, usucaption in Romania is a legal procedure through which a person can acquire the property right in Romania over a real estate that they have used and possessed for a specified period of time as defined by law, even though they did not initially hold legal title to it. Usucaption in Romania serves to protect long-term possession by eliminating disputes over property ownership.

The Romanian Law Firm Pavel Mărgărit and Associates recommends seeking the services of a landlord and tenant lawyer in Romania, property attorney in Romania or real estate attorney in Romania to obtain personalized legal assistance and fully understand the application and implications of usucaption in Romania in a specific situation. Our legal team’s assistance includes establishing the legal context of your situation, providing guidance for preparing documents such as purchase agreement for house in Romania, sale and purchase agreement in Romania, sales agreement in Romania as well as conducting a due diligence report in Romania to analyze and assess the specific situation of the property in question.

Articles from the practice area

Tagistrates’ strike in Romania

The Magistrates’ Strike and Its Impact on Divorce and Property Division Cases in Romania – What Litigants in Romania Need to Know

When Justice Stops: How Family Law Cases in Romania Are Affected and What Legal Solutions in Romania Exist During the Strike The magistrates’ strike in Romania has generated an unprecedented blockage in the activity of the courts, directly affecting thousands of divorces, procedures of divorce partition, property divisions, and other civil cases. The suspension of […]

Civil Litigation in Romania

Civil Litigation in Romania. How to protect your rights and achieve successful outcomes

Civil lawyer. Key steps to navigate a court procedure When dealing with civil litigation, the role of a civil lawyer becomes central in protecting your rights and guiding you through the legal system. A civil lawyer is trained to handle civil disputes, including real estate disputes, employment disputes, and cases involving civil liability. Without the […]

Legal consultation

Online Lawyer Consultation: Quick Access to Specialized Lawyers for Legal Issues

Legal consultation online. Benefits of quick access to specialized lawyers in Romania Legal consultation online has become one of the most requested solutions in Romania. A lawyer in Romania can now provide rapid and efficient legal assistance, while clients save both time and resources. Many Romanian lawyers working within a law firm or a modern […]

Corporate Litigation in Romania

Corporate Litigation in Romania: What you need to know about Business Disputes, Company law, and Protecting your Business

In today’s evolving legal and economic landscape, corporate conflicts, shareholder disputes, and strategic decision disagreements within companies have grown increasingly complex, requiring the intervention of business dispute lawyers, a corporate lawyer, or a business litigation attorney with deep knowledge of Romanian corporate law and commercial practice. Within the framework of an LLC or joint-stock company, […]

Intellectual Property Litigation

Intellectual Property Litigation: How to Protect Your Registered Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents Against Infringements

Intellectual property litigation has surged in Romania and across Europe, driven by the growth of digital markets, cross-border commerce and intensifying competition. Registered trademarks and trademark registration strategies are no longer merely formalities: they are essential business assets. Business owners who register trademark rights and who coordinate filings with bodies such as the EUIPO and […]

Divorce and Partition in Romania

Divorce and Partition in Romania: How a Family Lawyer can Assist with Divorce and Division of Common Property

The process of divorce procedure and the division of co-ownership raises numerous legal and emotional challenges, making it essential for the parties to be well-advised. Choosing correctly between a court-based divorce procedure and an amicable route at a notary depends on the level of conflict between spouses, their willingness to cooperate, and the complexity of […]

Restitution of Properties in Romania

Restitution of Properties in Romania: What You Need to Know about ANRP Compensation, Appeals, and the Restitution Process in Romania

The process of restitution of nationalized or abusively taken properties by the state is carried out through the National Authority for Restitution of Properties (ANRP) and through CNCI (National Commission for Property Compensation), in accordance with the provisions of Law 165/2013 regarding the measures for the finalization of the restitution process, either in kind or […]

Civil liability and tort liability: What it entails, When it applies, and How the procedure unfolds

Civil liability and tort liability: What it entails, When it applies, and How the procedure unfolds

Civil liability in Romania and tort liability are the legal framework through which damages are compensated in both contractual and extra-contractual relations. A clear differentiation between contractual liability and tort liability allows for determining the criteria for engaging responsibility and for establishing the compensation obligations. Through an action for damages in Romania, the injured party […]

Inheritance disputes – Succession Partition

Inheritance Disputes: Legal Strategies for Succession Partition and Protection of the Inheritance

Inheritance disputes constitute one of the most complex branches of civil law, having a major impact both on patrimony and on family relationships. Any succession is regulated by the Civil Code, and conflicts between heirs can be resolved amicably or, when this is not possible, through an inheritance process in court. In such situations, the […]

contestation of a tax decision

Procedure for Challenging Tax Documents: Taxpayer’s Rights regarding an NAFA Tax Decision

Tax disputes with NAFA are an increasingly frequent reality for both individuals and legal entities. Whether it concerns a tax dispute such as a contestation of an administrative act, a contestation of a tax decision, or a disagree with a tax decision, taxpayers must know the deadlines, procedures, and legal means through which they can […]

debt recovery

How to Legally Recover Claims in Romania: Efficient Solutions for Individuals and Companies

The debt recovery procedure in Romania represents an essential legal mechanism for protecting creditors’ rights and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations. By efficiently using the instruments provided by national legislation, creditors can achieve rapid results in matters of debt recovery and debt collection. Among the most frequently used procedures, the payment order, stands out, offering […]

action in court civil litigation

Legal Advice for Civil Litigation: How to Approach an Action in Court

As legal conflicts become increasingly complex and frequent, correctly approaching an action in court is necessary for protecting rights and interests. Whether it concerns a complex matter of civil litigation or clarifying the steps of the judicial process, the expertise of a civil lawyer, a litigation lawyer, or a defense attorney can make the difference […]