A common challenge facing international clients moving to Italy is the registration (“trascrizione“) of their birth or marriage certificates at the Ufficio di Stato Civile at the Comune. Registration of overseas birth or marriage certificates is optional for non-Italian citizens resident in Italy. Italian citizens, on the other hand, are...
Read MoreBudget 2025 – rise in fees for Italian citizenship applications
In the last few weeks of 2024 a controversial amendment was introduced to the Budget law which will increase the fee to 600 Euro per person for all applications being made for the recognition of Italian citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis). This amount would be payable whether the application is made at an Italian Consolate abroad, to the Comune, or...
Read MoreChoice of English law in Last Will and Testament
Our firm offers expert guidance to international clients in Italian inheritance law. We advise clients who wish to plan the distribution of their estate after their death, whether they own assets in Italy or overseas. We can advise on whether it is appropriate to include an express choice of English law in a Last Will and Testament. Our tailored advice is...
Read MoreItalian citizenship – the “Minor Issue”
New Circular by the Ministero dell’Interno regarding the ‘minor issue’ in Italian citizenship applications on the grounds of ius sanguinis. On 3 October 2024, the Ministero dell’Interno issued new guidelines to the courts, the Italian Consulates and the Comune in relation to applications for Italian citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis) and the...
Read MoreRound-up of recent ECHR caselaw – ITALY
This post contains a round-up of caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) relating to complaints brought against Italy. CASE OF FARINA AND OTHERS VS. ITALY Judgement: May 16th, 2024 Article 6 – Right to a fair trial The case originated from various applications against Italy complaining of the excessive length of civil proceedings and of...
Read MoreReferendum on Italian citizenship
The Italian government is proposing to hold a Referendum to ask whether the law should be changed to reduce the period of 10 years continous and lawful residence, which is necessary for a non-EU national to be able to apply to become an Italian citizen. The current period of 10 years continuous and lawful residence was fixed in 1992 (Art. 9 (1) (f) Legge 5...
Read MoreThe Italian Notarial profession
The role of the Italian Notary (“Notaio”) derives from the tradition of Roman-Latin culture in which the Notary would draw up legal documents and deeds for the Roman Emperor. The Notary can also be found in most other countries which are based on the civil law system (as opposed to the system of “common law” system of England and...
Read MoreDecreto Salva Casa
The Italian government on 19th July approved the Decreto Salva casa. The draft text of the new law is designed to legalise “abusive” property (“disposizioni urgenti in materia di semplificazione edilizia e urbanistica“) which will go before the Senate on 28th July. The new regulations will enable Italian home owners to regularize...
Read MoreConfirmation of permanent residence for British citizens
The Ministero dell’Interno has issued guidance to the Comune in relation to British citizens, resident in Italy since before 31.12.2020, the end of the Brexit transition period. This Circolare confirms that British citizens are still entitled to obtain a certificate of permanent residence from the Anagrafe (“attestazione di soggiorno...
Read MoreReduction of IMU for unoccupied properties
IMU tax payable on Italian property can be reduced by 50% where the property is unoccupied having been declared “inagibile” or “inabitabile”. The reduction is applicable only for those months in a given year when those condtions applied. However an owner who wishes to pay the reduced tax must first have ensured that the conditions...
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