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When handling international disputes, cross-border litigation, or enforcing a foreign judgment in Lebanon, conducting an asset search is often crucial. These searches are common in commercial conflicts, real estate disputes, and divorce cases, where verifying whether an individual owns property or company shares can significantly impact the outcome. This guide explains what information is publicly accessible under Lebanese law, what is restricted, and how long each step typically takes. What Information Is Public? Under Lebanese law, certain records are available for public access, mainly related to real estate and company ownership. Both require a structured, multi-step process.

1. Real Estate Search

A general property search can reveal all real estate registered under an individual’s name. To conduct this search, you typically need:

• Full name
• Birth year
• Mother’s name (if available)
• A copy of the ID (helpful but not mandatory)

Processing Time:

• General property search: around 10 days
• Physical real estate certificate: 2 business days

The initial search provides:

• Property number
• Official district/region
• Number of shares

From this, you can request individual real estate certificates, which include:

• Area size
• Purchase date
• Square meters
• Co-owners
• Liens or attachment orders
• Property description

Certificates can be obtained online for unofficial purposes or as physical copies for official court use.

2. Company Share Ownership

A similar two-step process applies to company shares. The general search identifies:

• All shares under the person’s name
• Company name
• Commercial register number

Processing Time:

• General commercial certificate: about 1 week
• Individual company certificate: 2 business days

The detailed company certificate provides:

• Shareholder structure
• Management details
• Business type
• Registered offices

What Is Restricted? Information on bank accounts and financial transactions is protected under Lebanon’s banking secrecy laws and is not publicly available. Practical Tips

• Always verify spelling and personal details before submitting requests.
• Physical certificates are required for court use; online versions are for reference only.
• Expect delays during peak periods or if additional verification is needed.