Law / How can I find out if a Polish citizen owns a property? [5]


It is, but it's not a simple process...

Law / How can I find out if a Polish citizen owns a property? [5]

sorry for the laconic response, I've had some technical difficulties ;)

It's possible but not for everyone. The "komornik" can do it for sure. He's entitled by the law because he's role it to find the debtor's assets. As for you, you have to prove your legal interest in gaining this information. For instance, you have to show that a person which you want to check died and you are entitled to inheritance as her/his heir. You can't check it just out of curiosity.

The application shall be filled to the department called "starostwo powiatowe" and you can only check the area covered by this particular "starostwo powiatowe". If you need to check the bigger area, you'd have to file more applications.

If you're a foreigner, it'll be difficult to do without legal assistance.

Law / Changing contract without consultation? Advice on EU/Polish employment law needed. [5]

She'll have to prove that the agreement (including the relevant provisions) was concluded earlier (verbally or by email) and I suppose it will be difficult. If there was an email correspondence in which the parties agreed on particular provisions and the employer told your friend "just come and sign", there's a real chance in the court

Law / I am a US company, I want to sue a Polish company. [5]

if you're still looking for the lawyer, you can check en.legate.pl

Love / Is it easy to get divorced if my Polish partner is still married? [4]

it's hard to say how long it may take; if her husband doesn't want to cooperate it may take close to a year or even longer;

it's enough that she wants the divorce though, it will be hard for her husband to deny it; if there are children, it's good to appoint an attorney because the court can deny the divorce for the good of the children; an attorney will help you prove that the divorce is justified and will not harm the children

you can send me PM or email if you have further questions

Law / How long it would take the Polish divorce usually? [6]

it depends on various things:
- if you both want it
- if you have children together
- if you want the court to rule that somebody should be deemed responsible for the divorce
- if someone will appeal against the ruling

based on the answers and on the luck it can take approximately 3 months - 2 years. Most often it takes 6-18 months.

Law / How long it would take the Polish divorce usually? [6]

it's unlikely, especially with the Christmas break coming in December;
I think 3-4 months is an optimistic guess, sometimes you have to wait more for the court to appoint a hearing.

If you want to do it swiftly, it's better to get an attorney;

Travel / Travelling to Poland in winter by road - some insights & best options to Munich from Warsaw [7]

it depends on where you're heading; if you go to Warsaw I advise to go through Berlin - Poznan - Warsaw --> you'll drive by highway almost all the way

Real Estate / Renting in Krakow, Poland - the safest district? fairly close to the city centre... [25]


find a room in a flat occupied by a single young owner or a working tenant - it will probably be much more comfortable

UK, Ireland / English dad, Polish mum are parting. What about the child? [27]

Hi Barbiekk,
Of course you have the custody rights but it can be limited during the divorce proceedings, so as the contact rights. There are no clear rules about who gets the custody, the court has to put the children's interest in the first place and has to examine which parent gives a better guarantee.

The most common ruling is that one parent gets full custody and the second one's custody rights are limited. Second parent should assert his contact rights so it's not hindered by the first parent who lives with the children.

Have you thought about getting an attorney?

Law / I do not have parental responsibility for my Polish daughter. Am I obligated to pay child support? [30]

hello, you're still obliged to pay child support but there are some boundaries.

Language / What is the Polish word for "friend"? [13]

male form - przyjaciel
female form - przyjaciółka

Law / Legal Advice of how to close a company owned in Poland [13]

hello,
we can help you with that problem if you wish;

we have to know what kind of company it is - sp. z o.o. (LLC), s.a (JSC) or other and see the articles of association.

After that we would give you our offer;

Law / Under Polish law, is an absent parent entitled to claim an income from their child?!?! [4]

Hello Adrian,
He can claim the alimony but you have strong arguments to deny this claim. Who received the court papers?
We can help you if you wish -

Real Estate / "Zachowek" means that even if the dead bequeathed his/her property in Poland.. [6]

Hello,
You're entitled to zachowek (legitim) if your parents passed away. You don't just accept it, you must claim it to receive it. It is possible that your claim diminishes the claim of your other relative. After it is given to you, you can donate it back to the main successor.

If you speak polish, you can check more on: spadek.com.pl

Real Estate / "Zachowek" means that even if the dead bequeathed his/her property in Poland.. [6]


- that's incorrect. It doesn't have to be offered. It can be paid voluntarily but frequently it isn't so you have to claim it.


--> in some cases it can make a difference; in most cases it doesn't indeed.

Real Estate / What are the legal rights of a majority owner of Polish real estate property? [11]

could you give us the land register number of this property?
normally, the owners cooperate in management and if they disagree they can turn to the court for a decision; every owner can also file the petition to the court for assignment of the property manager who will manage the property instead of the owners; a change of property manager is also possible - especially for the majority owner.

if you need the legal opinion or want to take some legal action, you can check us.

Real Estate / What are the legal rights of a majority owner of Polish real estate property? [11]


- is it not a way to gain control via court decision? the court can nominate you as manager. It is true though that the court doesn't have to choose you.

You can also file the petition to remove the manager so the owners can manage on they own. You will have more rights as a majority owner.

Food / Is it possible to buy (particularly online) exotic meats in Poland? [4]

you can buy exotic meat in Makro but you need someone with their client card to buy it for you;
you need to be an enterpreneur to shop there

Law / A general legal question about inheritance in Poland - debts [31]

if you're a minor (or one of the succesors is), you inherit the debts but only to the extent of assets left by the devisor.

in other case you inherit debts without limitation

Real Estate / What are the legal rights of a majority owner of Polish real estate property? [11]

It really depends on the property and your consensus on the division, so it's even hard to guess but I would opt for 1-2 years.

If the division would be really complicated you can consider "quad usum division" which will mean that you still co-own the property but you agree that one part will be used by you and the second one by the minority owner. It doesn't solve all the problems though because you will still have to agree on the management of the common parts (staircase, etc.).

Food / Food to give as a gift that is only representative of Poznan? [4]


I'm not sure you can find anything like it. There's a local cuisine, but it'll be difficult to find a product that is sold in Poznan and isn't available in Warsaw - both cities are too big and too close for that.

Greater Poland's cuisine is strongly based on potatos so you can consider the potato vodka - eg. Chopin vodka - it can be bought in Warsaw too but nevermind it.

Law / Polish divorce - there is next to no help available from the law! [11]

did you get a lawyer?
many people who don't know anything about the law go to court alone and complain; I don't know your situation but my experience shows that most rulings are fair but yo need to know how to act. Just the same as you have to know how to repair a car.

Law / Dying in Poland - Inheritance tax ? [62]

did you consider a polish solicitor? if you have to pay the inheritance tax in poland (and generally that's the case when you inherit property in Poland) you need a polish lawyer who knows the polish law system.

Law / Dying in Poland - Inheritance tax ? [62]


yes, you probably shouldn't have paid the inheritance tax but since you didn't report the inheritance and you've already paid the tax you can't claim it back now.

You've mentioned many things and none respectable lawyer will answer you not knowing exactly how your legal situation looks like.
I suggest you to ask for a legal opinion on a subject. You can hire us or some other polish attorneys.
You'll ask precise questions and you'll get precise answers.

Work / Two job offers in Poland, which one should I take? [12]

choose Poznań,
it overtakes £ódź in most rankings and I think it's much better for a foreigner - many people speak English - foreigners, students, graduates, etc.

Law / Registration as a Sole Trader in Poland [21]


No, it doesn't

Law / My wife's signature has been forged relating to a Polish will, is it worth hiring a lawyer? [16]

you can have a legal opinion prepared for you and decide afterwards.
the legal opinion should cost you 150-300$

Law / My wife's signature has been forged relating to a Polish will, is it worth hiring a lawyer? [16]


I'm sorry to hear your opinion. First of all you should always look for a lawyer with "radca prawny" / "adwokat" title because there are plenty of other lawyers without professional certification and professional responsibility.

I run the legal office myself and the market is so competitive that all the relatively young attorneys have to do their best to keep the client satisfied.

I won't write about my attitude because my opinion on that matter would be biased but I have some collegue attorneys who are in my opinion very good and professional and not as expensive as "Qwet" thinks.

Law / My wife's signature has been forged relating to a Polish will, is it worth hiring a lawyer? [16]


I get your point but there's another thing to consider. The lawyer hired by a big law firm is just an employee and an attorney running his own business is mostly better motivated to do his job well. He's doing it for himself not for his boss. Secondly, for a big law firm which is hired by banks and other big corporations you're just a small occasional client. For an individual lawyer you are more important. Of course, there are some pompous and incompetent ones but they are working for big law firms as well.


unfortunatelly I had some "clients" who were interested in being counseled, got their initial opinion and never paid. I'm not the only one - many collegues ran into a smart ass who prefers to turn to a number of lawyers and get something from every one without paying. Everyone wants to be paid for his work - lawyers as well. Most of the lawyers are flexible when it comes to the payment scheme though.


I agree on that point.