Pre-Purchase Legal Assistance

Pre-purchase legal assistance means buying a boat without unpleasant surprises. Before paying a deposit or signing a contract, it pays to check that the vessel is genuinely free of encumbrances, compliant and transferable, especially if it is second-hand or coming from abroad.

What we check

• Ownership: that the seller is the owner or is authorised to sell;
• Mortgages and encumbrances: registered charges, attachments, seizures or liens on the vessel;
• Documents: registration, ship's papers, engine certificates and licences, including for commercial use;
• Compliance: CE marking, declaration of conformity and hull identification number;
• VAT and customs status: proof that VAT has been paid in the European Union, or of customs clearance for non-EU vessels;
• Foreign flag: the documents needed for deregistration from the foreign register and registration in Italy.

The sale and purchase agreement

We help you draw up a clear contract covering price and deposits, sea trial and survey, conditions for withdrawal, date and place of delivery, included equipment and the allocation of costs. For the legal aspects we coordinate lawyers specialising in maritime law, while the technical survey is carried out by qualified marine surveyors.

After the purchase

We can take care of registering the contract, the registration or transfer of ownership and the insurance policies, so the boat is ready to sail.

Thinking of buying? Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page before you sign.

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