Civil law in Albania

Albania follows a civil-law tradition in which written legislation is central. The Civil Code, often called the Kodi Civil, provides the broad framework for private rights, obligations, contracts, property, inheritance, and related matters. A civil obligation can arise from a contract, damage caused to another person, unjustified benefit, or another legally recognized event. The person claiming performance normally needs to identify the obligation and support the relevant facts with evidence. Contracts are agreements intended to create legal effects. Validity can depend on genuine consent, legal capacity, a lawful purpose, sufficiently clear terms, and any required form, while certain transactions need writing, notarization, or registration. Property law distinguishes ownership from possession and regulates how rights over assets are acquired, used, transferred, or protected. For land and buildings, official records, boundaries, prior transfers, mortgages, and other registered rights require careful checking. Civil liability can arise when unlawful conduct causes harm. A claim may involve proof of conduct, fault where required, actual loss, and a sufficient connection between the conduct and the damage. Inheritance determines how a deceased person’s rights and obligations pass to successors. A will may influence distribution, but mandatory rules, family relationships, estate debts, and the formal validity of documents can still matter. Notaries perform an important role in many Albanian private-law transactions by authenticating acts or preparing documents that require formal treatment. A notarial act does not remove the need to understand the transaction or verify ownership and authority. Civil disputes may be handled through negotiation, mediation or another agreed process, and court proceedings. A judgment is valuable only if it can be enforced, so the other party’s identity, location, and assets can have practical importance from the beginning.