If you are an Irish citizen who has inherited a Spanish estate, or an Irish national owning property in Spain and planning your succession, you need a lawyer who understands both the Spanish inheritance system and how it interacts with Irish probate. We have handled Spanish inheritance and wills for British, Irish and other international clients on the Costa Blanca and in Valencia since 1992.
Why Irish heirs need a Spanish inheritance lawyer
When an Irish citizen dies owning assets in Spain — typically a Costa Blanca property — those Spanish-situs assets must be dealt with under Spanish succession procedure, regardless of any will or grant of probate obtained in Ireland. An Irish Grant of Probate does not, by itself, transfer Spanish property. We manage the entire Spanish-side inheritance for Irish heirs, in English, with direct advice from qualified Spanish lawyers.
EU Succession Regulation 650/2012 — Ireland opted out
Ireland, like the United Kingdom and Denmark, did not opt into EU Regulation 650/2012 (Brussels IV). Spanish private international law (Article 9.8 of the Spanish Civil Code) nonetheless allows the law of the deceased’s nationality to govern their Spanish succession. In practice this means an Irish citizen can validly elect, in a Spanish will, that Irish succession law applies. We draft Spanish wills for Irish clients with a properly worded choice-of-law clause so the election is recognised by Spanish notaries and the Land Registry.
Recognition of Irish wills and probate in Spain
An Irish will, or an Irish Grant of Probate, can be used in Spain once legalised with the Hague Apostille and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator. Where Spanish notaries require evidence of Irish law, an affidavit of Irish law may be prepared. We coordinate the apostille, sworn translation and any affidavit of foreign law, and we reconcile the Irish documentation with the Spanish notary’s requirements.
Spanish probate vs Aceptación de Herencia
In Spain the heirs (or their attorney under power of attorney) sign the Escritura de Aceptación y Adjudicación de Herencia before a Spanish notary, and the inherited assets are registered at the Spanish Land Registry. We handle the search of the Spanish Last Will Registry, the heirs’ NIE applications, the signing of the acceptance of inheritance, and the registration of the property in the heirs’ names.
Spanish inheritance tax — the Spanish side handled for you
Spanish inheritance tax applies to Spanish-situs assets and must be settled as part of the process. We manage the Spanish-side inheritance-tax filing and coordinate with your Irish solicitor or accountant on the home-country side, so the cross-border process is handled in one place. We will set out what applies to your specific case before any filing.
Power of Attorney — handling a Spanish inheritance from Ireland
Most Irish heirs we represent complete the entire Spanish inheritance remotely. Through a Power of Attorney signed before a notary in Ireland and legalised with the Hague Apostille, our office is authorised to act on your behalf in Spain. Once apostilled and translated, we handle every step without you needing to travel.
See also our full Spanish inheritance and wills service.
Need help with a Spanish inheritance?
Free initial consultation. Direct legal advice in English from qualified Spanish lawyers — no interpreters.
WhatsApp +34 607 320 768 — Call +34 965 792 946 — Or send us a message via our contact form.
★★★★★ 72+ verified Google reviews · serving international clients on the Costa Blanca since 1992 · Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Valencia (ICAV)
