How do I protect my deposit before the notary appointment?

Never pay a deposit without legal protection. Two routes are common. First, a written preliminary contract (predvaritelen dogovor) under Art. 19 of the Obligations and Contracts Act (ZZD), setting out the property, price, payment method and deadlines — if the seller later refuses to sign, you can have a court declare the preliminary contract final under Art. 19(3) ZZD. Second, the deposit can run through the escrow account of a Bulgarian lawyer, which holds it until completion. A cash payment straight to the seller without a preliminary contract is the biggest avoidable risk. Svetlana structures the preliminary contract and payment route with a lawyer before any money moves.