The Law Office ČARMAK was founded in 2016 in Bar, Montenegro, by attorney Božidar Čarmak.

In 2022, the seat of the Law Office was relocated and officially established in the capital city of Podgorica , where it continues to operate.

The activities of the Law Office are based on a well-established professional principle that success in the resolution of legal matters must constitute an effective right of every individual and every legal entity, rather than a mere possibility dependent upon a series of unknown and uncertain circumstances.

Our mission is to provide reliable assistance in the secure identification of efficient and effective solutions to the legal challenges faced by individuals and legal entities in proceedings before courts and institutions of the legal system, as well as to offer the highest standard of legal counsel in the realization of legal transactions and the conduct of business activities.

The professional cohesion, experience, and efficiency of our expert team guarantee a responsible approach to identifying permanent and sustainable solutions to a broad spectrum of legal issues which unpredictably threaten the integrity of individuals and disrupt the legal and economic security of business entities in the peaceful pursuit of their legitimate objectives within the reasonably expected boundaries of the legal system of Montenegro.

• Attorney at Law Božidar Čarmak

• Milica Kalpačina - Law Office Administrator 

Adress: Bratsva Jedinstva br. 65

81 000 Podgorica

Montenegro

PO box 91

Phone: +382 67 105 205

       +382 68 008 110

Email: bozidar@lawoffice-carmak.com

    office@lawoffice-carmak.com

• The New Companies Law in Force as of 1 January 2026: Key Issues to Consider

• “National Security Grounds” in the Interpretation of Recent Administrative Court Case Law

• The Limits of the Application of ECtHR Precedents from Strasbourg in the Case Law of Ordinary Courts in Montenegro

• The Issue of Limitation Periods for Compensation Claims in “De Facto Expropriation” Proceedings

Access up-to-date property ownership data in Montenegro for free. See the user guide here.

Get current maps and on-site details of properties in Montenegro for free. Follow the guide here.

View registered company info, ownership, members, branches, and contacts for free. Check the guide here.

Access bank account info of legal entities in Montenegro for free. Use the guide here or go directly to: https://eportal.cbcg.me/cbcgPregledi/faces/pages/pregledracuni.jspx

Check registered pledges on movable assets in Montenegro for free. See the guide here.

I. CIVIL AND CONTRACT LAW

1. 30 days – action for disturbance of possession
   (Law on Property Relations)
   
   

2. 6 months – claim for material defects
   (Law on Obligations)
   
   

3. 1 year – annulment of a contract concluded under threat
   (Law on Obligations)
   
   

4. 1 year – annulment of a contract due to fraud
   (Law on Obligations)
   
   

5. 3 years – challenge of the debtor’s legal acts (actio Pauliana)
   (Law on Obligations)
   
   

6. 30 days – request for termination of a contract due to non-performance
   (Law on Obligations – certain types of contracts)
   
   

II. LABOUR LAW

7. 15 days – employer’s decision on an employee’s request for protection of rights
   (Labour Law)
   
   

8. 15 days – filing a lawsuit after the response of the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution
   (Labour Law)
   
   

9. 15 days – challenge of a dismissal decision
   (Labour Law)
   
   

III. FAMILY AND INHERITANCE LAW

10. 6 months – contesting paternity by the mother
    (Family Law)
    
    

11. 1 year – annulment of marriage due to mistake or coercion
    (Family Law)
    
    

12. 3 months – creditors’ request for separation of the estate
    (Law on Inheritance)
    
    

13. 8 days – objection against a decision on inheritance
    (Law on Non-Contentious Proceedings)
    
    

IV. ENFORCEMENT AND MORTGAGE LAW

14. 5 days – objection against an enforcement order
    (Law on Enforcement and Security)
    
    

15. 8 days – deadline for payment under an enforcement order based on an authentic document
    (Law on Enforcement and Security)
    
    

16. 8 days – challenge of mortgage registration
    (Law on State Survey and Cadastre)
    
    

17. 15 days – lawsuit challenging satisfaction through a mortgage
    (Law on Property Relations)
    
    

18. 15 days – request for removal of irregularities in enforcement proceedings
    (Law on Enforcement and Security)
    
    

V. COMPANY AND COMMERCIAL LAW

19. 30 days – challenge of a company assembly resolution
    (Law on Business Organisations)
    
    

20. 6 months – lawsuit by minority shareholders for share buyout
    (Law on Business Organisations)
    
    

21. 1 year – lawsuit against a director for breach of duty
    (Law on Business Organisations)
    
    

22. 30 days – derivative action for judicial protection of shareholders’ rights
    (Law on Business Organisations)
    
    

23. 15 days – appeal against a decision of the Central Registry of Business Entities (CRBE)
    (Law on Registration of Business Entities)
    
    

VI. BANKRUPTCY LAW (PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT DEADLINES)

24. 30 days – filing of claims in bankruptcy proceedings
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

25. 8 days – objection to the list of recognised claims
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

26. 8 days – appeal against a decision of the bankruptcy court
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

27. 6 months – challenge of legal transactions and acts of the bankruptcy debtor
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

28. 30 days – registration of secured (separation) rights
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

29. 8 days – contesting a secured (separation) right
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

30. 60 days – submission of a reorganisation plan
    (Bankruptcy Law)
    
    

VII. BANKING AND FINANCIAL LAW

31. 15 days – decision on a client’s complaint to a bank regarding a decision or calculation
    (Law on Credit Institutions)
    
    

32. 30 days – addressing the Central Bank
    (Law on Credit Institutions)
    
    

33. 15 days – creditor’s notification of a change in the interest rate
    (Law on Consumer Credit)
    
    

34. 15 days – proposal of a contract for conversion of a loan into an alternative currency
    (Law on Consumer Credit)
    
    

35. 14 days – withdrawal from a credit agreement
    (Law on Consumer Credit)
    
    

36. 15 days – deadline for considering a binding housing loan offer
    (Law on Consumer Credit)
    
    

VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

37. 15 days – general deadline for appealing an administrative act (special deadlines may be 8 days)
    (General Administrative Procedure Law)
    
    

38. 20 days – initiation of an administrative dispute
    (Law on Administrative Disputes)
    
    

39. 1 year – request for annulment of a final administrative act
    (General Administrative Procedure Law)
    
    

40. 8 days – appeal against a decision in civil litigation
    (Civil Procedure Law)
    
    

41. 15 days – appeal against a judgment
    (Civil Procedure Law)
    
    

IX. MISDEMEANOUR AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW

42. 8 days – request for judicial review of a misdemeanour order
    (Law on Misdemeanours)
    
    

43. 8 days – appeal in misdemeanour proceedings
    (Law on Misdemeanours)
    
    

44. 15 days – appeal against a criminal judgment
    (Criminal Procedure Code)
    
    

45. 30 days – request for reopening of criminal proceedings
    (Criminal Procedure Code)
    
    

X. OTHER IMPORTANT DEADLINES

46. 3 months – notification of the amount of actual damage suffered by the rights acquirer to the author under the right of withdrawal
    (Law on Copyright and Related Rights)
    
    

47. 50 years – protection of performers’ rights
    (Law on Copyright and Related Rights)
    
    

48. 30 days – appeal against tender documentation
    (Law on Public Procurement)
    
    

49. 15 days – appeal in expropriation proceedings
    (Law on Expropriation; General Administrative Procedure Law)
    
    

50. 20 days – judicial protection against a regulator’s decision
    (Sector-specific laws: energy, finance, telecommunications)

NOTE: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal deadlines depend on specific circumstances and applicable law. For official legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney. 

If You Realize You Do Not Have Enough Time to Engage a Lawyer in a Timely Manner

If you understand that you do not have sufficient time to retain a lawyer promptly, it is crucial not to miss the deadlines for filing a lawsuit or request. In such cases, it is better to act yourself to interrupt the running of the statutory limitation periods, giving yourself time to carefully select a qualified attorney.

Court proceedings begin with the submission of an “initial act”, which may take the form of a lawsuit, request, motion, claim, or other initiating document.

When preparing any of these documents, it is essential to clearly indicate:

The court or authority to which the initial act is submitted

(e.g., Basic Court in Podgorica, Real Estate Administration – Branch Office Budva, Central Bank of Montenegro, etc.).

Your capacity in submitting the document

(e.g., Plaintiff, Claimant, Petitioner, Applicant, etc.).

Your personal or entity details

Full name

Residential address

Personal identification number (optional but recommended for individuals)

Tax identification number (mandatory if the applicant is a legal entity).

Details of the opposing party, if applicable (most cases are adversarial):

Capacity (e.g., Defendant, Opposing Party, Respondent)

Name or registered legal entity

Address

Tax identification number for legal entities

Registered office for service of documents

Name of the authorized representative

Information about registered legal entities can be obtained via the website section “Free Legal Data”, by searching for current registration details.

After this, in the center of the document, indicate its title (e.g., LAWSUIT, REQUEST, MOTION, CLAIM, etc.).

Only after completing the above, systematically explain the substance of your issue, clearly referencing the evidence supporting your submission, which should be attached to the initial act (e.g., business documentation, proof of payment, witness statements, expert reports, etc.).

For some initial acts, it is mandatory to specify the requested decision of the court or authority (e.g., in lawsuits). For others, it is optional but advisable, as it facilitates the work of the deciding authority (e.g., “Finally, I request the Court to issue a JUDGMENT obliging the Defendant to pay the Claimant the outstanding amount of …” or “Based on the foregoing, I request the competent authority to issue the following DECISION registering the applicant in the …”).

At the end of the initial act, include the place and date of preparation and provide your handwritten signature (e.g., “Bar, 10 October 2026. Plaintiff’s signature: ____________” or “Bijelo Polje, 12 March 2026. Applicant’s signature: ____________”). A signature is mandatory.

If completed, it is recommended to list, at the bottom of the document, all attachments submitted with the initial act (e.g., “Attachment: Site condition report; proof of fee payment; copy of identity card,” etc.).

IMPORTANT: Interrupting limitation periods that are close to expiration is the most critical action (the condicio sine qua non) for the continuation of the procedure. Any errors can still be corrected immediately after filing the initial act, but subsequent stages may not allow corrections. Therefore, as soon as the initial act is submitted, immediately engage a qualified attorney and provide full details of the actions you have taken independently.

Some examples of initial acts can be accessed here.

A list of specific limitation periods can be accessed here.

Oral Consultation and Legal Advice

Written Legal Analysis, Drafting of Legal Documents, and Advisory Services

Active Legal Representation

NOTE: Fees and billing methods for legal services are determined in accordance with the Attorney Tariff of Montenegro (Official Gazette of Montenegro 132/2025, dated 12 November 2025)

• Civil Proceedings – Litigation: Active Legal Representation

• Expropriation: Active Legal Representation

• Commercial Litigation: Active Legal Representation

• Company Formation and Corporate Changes: Consultation, Written Analysis, Drafting and Submission of Documents

• Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring: Consultation, Written Analysis, Drafting and Submission of Documents

• Criminal Proceedings: Active Legal Defense and Representation

• Misdemeanor Proceedings: Active Legal Defense and Representation

• Marriage and Family Relations: Consultation and Active Legal Representation

• Debt Collection: Consultation and Active Legal Representation

• Employment Relations: Consultation, Written Analysis, Drafting and Submission of Documents, Active Legal Representation

• Regulation of Personal Status Rights – Residence and Citizenship: Drafting and Submission of Documents, Active Legal Representation

• Constitutional Court: Consultation, Written Analysis, Drafting and Submission of Constitutional Complaints, Drafting and Submission of Requests for Assessment of Constitutionality of Laws or Other General Acts, Active Legal Representation before the Court

• European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg: Consultation, Written Analysis, Drafting and Submission of Applications for Violation of Rights and Freedoms Guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, Active Legal Representation before the Court

The process of buying and selling ownership shares in joint-stock companies is strictly regulated, legally conservative, and subject to the careful attention of numerous stakeholders, as well as rigorous regulatory authorities.

In the pursuit of business success, mistakes are often made that can be costly and time-consuming to rectify. For this reason, discreet and timely legal advice at the earliest stage of share transactions is essential.

For highly sensitive business activities involving share transfers, we provide legal services in consultation, analysis, and active legal representation at all stages of the transaction, including court proceedings.

NOTE: These services may be subject to a separate agreement with the client.

• Business Entities and Corporate Governance

• Business entities operating in Montenegro should take into account that, as of 1 January 2026, a new Companies Act (“Official Gazette of Montenegro,” No. 090/25 of 6 August 2025) will come into force. This law significantly modifies the legal framework governing corporate obligations, with a greater emphasis on the application of corporate governance principles.

• Timely legal consultation at the earliest stage of the new law’s implementation represents a cost-effective investment, providing business entities with legal certainty and a competitive advantage.

• For the needs of business entities, we provide oral consultations, written legal analysis, drafting of documents, and active legal representation.

• A large number of business entities that commenced operations prior to 2020 lack experience in applying the new legal provisions. Many of their corporate documents remain outside the framework of the new legal requirements, which may lead to serious issues at multiple stages of business operations.

• A particular challenge for all business entities is the entry into force of the new Companies Act on 1 January 2026, which explicitly requires joint-stock companies (AD) to comply with the Corporate Governance Code.

• The new Companies Act also introduces the mandatory formation of a General Assembly for limited liability companies (DOO) — the most common corporate form in Montenegro — regardless of the number of founders. The fact that founders can no longer exercise their founding rights directly, but only through the DOO General Assembly, represents a general legal challenge for the majority of business entities in Montenegro. The legal validity of ownership decisions will now depend on compliance with the new Companies Act.

• The detailed statutory obligations and corporate governance rules are elaborated in several chapters of the new law, which requires specialized legal analysis and advice for each individual case. These obligations include, among others:

• Duty to report transactions and actions involving personal interest

• Duty to avoid conflicts of interest

• Duty to maintain business confidentiality

• Duty to comply with non-compete obligations

• Informing the joint-stock company and shareholders

• Right of the company to verify shareholder identity

• Restrictions on the distribution of company assets to shareholders

• Treasury shares (own shares) of joint-stock companies

• Encouragement of long-term shareholder engagement in public joint-stock companies

• Maintenance of corporate records and transparency of operations

• Ownership shares in limited liability companies (DOO)

• The General Assembly of DOO, etc.

If you require an external legal review of your obligations in banking transactions, we can assist you by providing oral consultations, written legal analysis, and active legal representation for both financial clients and service providers.

Early legal advice and representation in banking matters is the most effective way to clearly regulate these legal relationships and the only proper means of precisely defining rights and obligations undertaken. This approach allows you to avoid unpleasant surprises and subsequent business problems. However, if you prefer a later external review, it should not be postponed at any stage of this legal relationship.

NOTE: These services may be subject to a separate agreement with the client.

The legal framework for drafting laws, regulations, and other general acts constitutes a very specific and highly specialized area of law, handled by a limited circle of legal service providers.

We provide our clients with professional participation in working groups, analysis of legislative practices and processes, drafting of bills and other general acts, as well as technical and substantive legal processing of already published normative materials.

Due to the specificity of this service, a detailed analysis of the client’s needs and requirements is essential.

NOTE: These services may be subject to a separate agreement with the client.