A carefully negotiated contract can still create difficulties if the person signing it has not been properly checked. A founder, shareholder, sales manager and company administrator may have different roles. Before paying a deposit or accepting a major commitment, confirm the company’s identity and the capacity in which its representative is acting.
This checklist focuses on the documents and questions to review before signing with an Albanian company. It is a practical due diligence process, rather than a substitute for advice on whether a particular contract binds the company.
1. Identify the exact contracting company
Match the legal name and NIPT/NUIS in the agreement with the registered entity. Check the address and status, and distinguish a company from its shareholders, a trading name or another business in the same group. Ask for a recent QKB extract and examine the historical record when the representative or company structure has changed.
QKB provides simple and historical extract services. Keep the dated extract in the transaction file and record which documents were checked. A screenshot or an old extract supplied during early negotiations may not reflect changes before signature.
2. Establish the signer’s role
Ask whether the signer is a legal representative or a person acting under delegated authority. For an Albanian limited liability company, administrators have statutory representation duties. Share ownership or a job title alone should not be used as proof of authority to enter the particular transaction.
Compare the person’s identity, appointment documents and registered representation arrangements. Check the applicable company form, articles of association and any relevant resolutions. The legal effect of restrictions towards third parties depends on the company law rules, including publication and knowledge; an internal limit does not automatically make every contract invalid.
3. Check joint representation
If the documents indicate joint representation, clarify who must participate and what evidence supports any authorisation for one person to act. Ask for the relevant written instrument instead of relying on a verbal assurance that the second signature is unnecessary. Escalate discrepancies between the extract, articles and proposed signature block before completion.
4. Review a power of attorney or delegation
Read the actual authority document and check the represented company, the representative, the transaction covered and any limits. As practical safeguards, confirm whether it remains in force, whether substitution is permitted and whether the final contract falls within its scope. Formality, translation and authentication requirements depend on the instrument and transaction.
A general permission to communicate or collect documents should not be assumed to authorise a sale, guarantee, settlement or other major commitment. If the instrument is unclear, obtain legal review and a suitable clarification before proceeding.
5. Confirm approvals and the final version
Ask whether the transaction requires a corporate approval or a sector-specific permission. Separate internal approval questions from external representation questions; both deserve review. Retain the signed resolution or approval where relevant, and make sure it refers to the correct transaction.
Before signature, compare the final text and annexes with the version approved by the parties. Include the company’s correct details, the signer’s name and capacity, and any relevant authority reference. Independently confirm unexpected payment-account changes using an established contact channel.
A short example
A supplier sends an agreement signed by its commercial manager. The buyer should request evidence of that person’s authority, compare it with the company documents and resolve any joint-signature requirement. The issue is not answered simply by a company stamp or by the manager’s involvement in negotiations.
How Alba Legal can assist
Alba Legal can review corporate records, representation documents, approvals and commercial contracts in Albania. A documented check helps identify questions before money is transferred. This article is general information; the consequences of a disputed signature require assessment of the facts and applicable law.
Official sources
Law No. 9901/2008, updated text published by QKB, particularly representation provisions; QKB commercial-register extract services; and Civil Code, QBZ, for representation and powers of attorney. Sources checked on 6 October 2026.
