Can a foreigner make a will in Georgia?
Yes. A foreigner who owns property in Georgia can make a will before a Georgian notary in the same way as a Georgian citizen, and a will made abroad can also be used in Georgia if it meets the rules on form. For an owner whose family lives in another country, a will is often the simplest gift to the heirs: it names who should receive the flat, it is found through the notaries' register, and it spares the heirs some of the uncertainty about which law and which relatives apply.
This guide explains what a will can and cannot do for Georgian property, the forms the Civil Code recognises, how to make a notarial will, and what to check if you already have a will made at home.
What a will can and cannot change
Under Georgian private international law, inheritance is governed by the law of the country whose citizen you are at the time of death, and a will cannot choose another law. A will made in Georgia therefore works within your home law's rules on who may inherit and how much close relatives must receive. Where Georgian law applies, the main limit is the compulsory share: children, parents and the spouse are entitled to half of what they would receive without a will, whatever the will says. Within those limits, a will can name heirs and their shares, leave a particular flat to a particular person, name substitute heirs, and appoint an executor.
To be added by the team: the partner lawyer to confirm, for the most common nationalities of our clients, whether their home law lets a will govern real estate in Georgia and how compulsory shares apply.
Which forms of will does Georgian law recognise?
| Form | How it is made | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Notarial will | Certified by a notary, who may write it down from your words before two witnesses | Prevails over other forms; cannot be revoked by a non-notarial will |
| Handwritten will | Written and signed entirely by hand | Can be deposited with a notary in a sealed envelope before three witnesses |
| Typed will with witnesses | Signed before two witnesses who attest it | Witnesses must meet the legal conditions |
| Closed will | Witnesses attest it without reading it | Keeps the content private until death |
In special situations, such as a hospital, an expedition, a ship, an aircraft, military service or prison, the head of the institution or the commander may certify a will in place of a notary. Where no notary is available, a local self-government body can certify it.
Who can make a will, and with whom
Any adult who can understand the meaning of their actions can make a will, and must do so in person, not through a representative. Joint wills are not allowed, with one exception: spouses may make a mutual will together, which either of them can revoke while both are alive. A testator who cannot sign may have another person sign, with the reason recorded, and there are extra safeguards for testators who are blind, illiterate, deaf or mute.
Not everyone can be a witness. Minors, persons without legal capacity, the heirs named in the will and their parents, children, siblings and spouses, and anyone receiving a legacy cannot witness the will.
What to put in the will
- Heirs and shares. If you name heirs without shares, they inherit equally.
- Specific property. Identify each Georgian property by its address and cadastral code.
- Substitute heirs. Someone to inherit if the first heir dies first or refuses.
- Legacies. For example, the right for a person who lived with you for at least a year to keep living in the flat.
- An executor. Someone, with their consent, to carry out the will; unpaid unless the will provides a fee.
- Disinheritance. You may exclude heirs by law without giving reasons, subject to the compulsory share.
A will cannot leave it to someone else to decide the heirs' shares, and a will can also cover property you acquire after making it.
How to make a notarial will in Georgia, step by step
List your Georgian property
With cadastral codes and fresh extracts; a property must be registered in your name for the heirs to receive a certificate.
Check your home law
Ask a lawyer how your nationality's law treats a will for real estate abroad.
Prepare the text
Ideally in two columns, Georgian and your language, reviewed by a lawyer.
Book a notary and an interpreter
Notarial acts are in Georgian, so an interpreter must take part if you do not speak it.
Sign before the notary
The notary certifies the will; under the current tariff the fee is GEL 16.
Tell your family where it is
Notaries record wills in a general register, but heirs still need to know to ask.
A will made abroad
A will made outside Georgia is valid in form for Georgian property if it complies with the law of your nationality at death, the law of your habitual residence at death, or the law of the place where the property is. Your heirs will need the will with an apostille or legalisation and a certified Georgian translation, and they will present it to a Georgian notary when they apply for the certificate of inheritance. If your home will mentions Georgian property only generally, consider adding a short Georgian will that names the flat by its cadastral code, made so that it does not conflict with the home will.
Changing or revoking a will
You can change or revoke a will at any time: by making a new will, by applying to a notary, or by destroying all copies. Several wills remain valid as far as they do not contradict each other, and a revoked will cannot be brought back to life. A notarial will can only be revoked in notarial form. If you make a new will at home, check that it does not accidentally revoke your Georgian one.
What happens after death
After the death, the notary reads the will to the interested persons and records it. Heirs have six months from the opening of the succession to accept the inheritance, and the notary issues a certificate of inheritance after that period. A claim to invalidate a will must be brought within two years of the opening of the succession. Our guide to inheritance of a foreigner's property covers the heirs' side in detail.
Wills for couples
Spouses may make one mutual will together, or each make their own. In either case, remember what each of you can actually leave: the surviving spouse's own share of property acquired during the marriage is not part of the deceased's estate, so a will can only dispose of the deceased's share. A mutual will can be revoked by either spouse while both are alive. A divorced spouse does not inherit by law, so a divorce is a reason to review any will that names the former spouse.
Keeping your will up to date
A will reflects the moment it was made. Review it whenever one of these changes:
- Your property: after buying or selling a flat, update the cadastral codes the will names.
- Your family: marriage, divorce, a birth or a death among the heirs.
- Your nationality: because the law of your nationality at death governs your inheritance, a new or second citizenship can change the rules that apply.
- Your home will: a new will made abroad may affect the Georgian one.
Choosing an executor
An executor is optional. If you name none, the heirs named in the will carry it out themselves. If you do name one, choose someone who agrees to the role and can deal with Georgian offices, such as a family member who visits Georgia or a professional. The executor works without pay unless the will provides a fee, and is liable for harm caused intentionally or through gross negligence. Several executors can be named.
What a will costs in total
The notary's fee for certifying a will is GEL 16 under the current tariff. Add the cost of an interpreter if you do not speak Georgian, a certified translation if you want the text in your own language as well, and, if you use one, a lawyer's fee for drafting. A will made abroad costs nothing in Georgia until it is used, when the heirs pay for its apostille, translation and the notary's work on the inheritance.
Risks and exceptions
- Conflicting wills. A new will at home may revoke or contradict the Georgian one.
- Ignoring compulsory shares. Close relatives can claim them whatever the will says.
- Wrong witnesses. Heirs and their close family cannot witness.
- Unregistered property. Heirs cannot receive a certificate for property not in your name.
- No one knows it exists. Tell your family where to look.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner make a will in Georgia?
Yes, before a Georgian notary, on the same terms as a citizen.
Does a Georgian will override my home country's law?
No; inheritance follows the law of your nationality, and a will cannot choose another law.
How much does a notarial will cost?
GEL 16 under the current notarial tariff, plus any translation and interpreter.
Can spouses make one will together?
Yes, a mutual will; other joint wills are not allowed.
Is my will from home valid for my Georgian flat?
Its form is valid if it meets the law of your nationality, your residence or Georgia; the heirs will need it apostilled and translated.
Can I leave everything to one person?
Under Georgian law, children, parents and the spouse can still claim half of their intestate share.
How do my heirs find my will?
Notaries record wills in a general register, and heirs can ask after giving the death certificate.
Can I change my will later?
Yes, at any time; a notarial will can only be revoked in notarial form.
Sources
- Civil Code of Georgia (Articles 1329, 1345-1371, 1385, 1398-1417), Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Law of Georgia on Private International Law (Articles 55, 56), Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Government Resolution No 507 on notarial fees, Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Answers to hot topics, Notary Chamber of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Make a will and inherit property in Georgia, JUST Advisors, 17 July 2025 (accessed 18 October 2026)
Change log
- - Guide published from the Civil Code (Arts. 1345-1417), the Law on Private International Law, the notarial tariff and the Notary Chamber.