Do You Need a UK Law Firm for a Spanish Inheritance?
If you search for help with a Spanish inheritance from the UK, the first results are London and regional British firms. Many are excellent lawyers — in English law. But a Spanish estate is administered in Spain, under Spanish law, before a Spanish notary, with taxes filed at the Spanish tax office. Here is what that means for you in practice — from a firm of Spanish abogados established in Jávea, on the Costa Blanca, in 1992.
What actually happens when you instruct a UK firm
A UK firm cannot sign deeds before a Spanish notary, obtain your NIE, or file Spanish inheritance tax. So it does one of two things: it refers your case to a law firm in Spain (adding its own fee on top), or it handles the correspondence while a Spanish firm does the legal work anyway. Either way, the work ends up where the estate is — in Spain — with an extra layer of cost and an extra handover in the timeline.
The 6-month deadline does not wait
Spanish inheritance tax must be declared within six months of the death. An extension is possible, but only if requested within the first five months. Every week spent passing papers between the UK and Spain runs down that clock. Instructing lawyers in Spain directly removes the intermediary entirely.
What we do that a UK firm cannot
- Sign and complete everything before the Spanish notary under Power of Attorney — in most cases you never need to travel
- Obtain the certificates directly — death certificate, Spanish Last Will Registry, insurance registry
- Calculate and file Spanish inheritance tax (ISD) within the deadline, applying the Valencian Community allowances that often reduce the bill dramatically
- Register the property in the heirs’ names at the Spanish Land Registry
- All correspondence in plain English, from lawyers admitted to the Spanish Bar
We prepare the Power of Attorney here in Spain and send it to you to sign before a notary in the UK (with the Hague Apostille) or at a Spanish consulate — so the entire succession is handled in Spain on your behalf.
What it costs
Fixed fees, agreed in writing before we start — one firm, one fee, no referral margin. Established in Jávea in 1992 · 72+ verified five-star Google reviews from British, Irish and international clients.
Frequently asked questions
Can you deal with my UK solicitor if I already have one?
Yes — we regularly work alongside UK solicitors handling the English side of an estate. The Spanish assets still need Spanish lawyers; we simply remove the extra layer for the Spanish part.
Do I have to travel to Spain?
In most cases, no. A Power of Attorney signed before a notary in the UK with the Hague Apostille lets us act for you entirely from Spain — at the notary, the bank, the Land Registry and the tax office.
Is my English will valid for Spanish property?
It can be used, but it must be legalised with an apostille and officially translated, which adds time and cost. A separate Spanish will covering only your Spanish assets usually makes the process faster and cheaper for your heirs — and it does not revoke your English will.
How long does Spanish probate take?
With a Power of Attorney and complete paperwork, typically 8–12 weeks for straightforward estates — well within the six-month tax deadline.
Speak to us first — it costs nothing
Before you instruct anyone, send us a brief description of the situation. We will tell you plainly what is involved, how long it will take and what it will cost. See also our full guide to Spanish inheritance and wills and, if you are thinking ahead, gifting property in Spain to your children.
💬 WhatsApp Us
📞 +34 965 79 29 46
✉️ Email Us
Tomas Ballestero Lawyers
Avenida del Pla 126, 2º, puertas 28 A y B
03730 Jávea (Xàbia), Alicante — Spain
Tel: +34 965 79 29 46 | Mobile / WhatsApp: +34 607 320 768
Email: [email protected]
