Inheritance lawyer in Spain for foreign families
When someone dies owning a home or a bank account in Spain, the heirs have to deal with Spanish paperwork, Spanish taxes and Spanish deadlines, often from abroad. We handle the Spanish side of the estate for you and explain every step in English.
Paid initial consultation: 60 €, about 45 minutes, at our office or by video call. No obligation to instruct us afterwards.
Situations we help with
A parent died owning property in Spain
We obtain the Spanish certificates, accept the estate before a notary, pay the taxes and transfer the property into the heirs' names.
There is a foreign will
We check whether it can be used in Spain, what translations and apostilles are needed, and whether a Spanish will also exists.
There is no will
We establish who the legal heirs are and obtain the declaration of heirs.
We want to sell the inherited home
We complete the inheritance first and then help you sell, including the taxes for non-resident sellers.
The heirs do not agree
We try to reach an agreement first. If that is not possible, we protect your rights in the division of the estate.
I want to make a Spanish will
We advise you on which law applies and how to make your will so that your heirs avoid problems later.
The whole Spanish estate, handled for you
- Death, last wills and life insurance certificates
- NIE for the heirs
- Declaration of heirs
- Acceptance of the estate at the notary
- Spanish inheritance tax and plusvalía
- Transfer of property and bank accounts
- Powers of attorney from abroad
- Spanish wills
Deadlines run from the date of death. Spanish inheritance tax is, as a general rule, due within six months of the death. An extension can be requested, but only in time. The sooner we start, the more room you have.
You can usually sign from your own country. In most cases the heirs can sign a power of attorney in their own country and we do the rest in Spain.
The estate, step by step
- 1
Message us
Tell us the nationality of the deceased, whether there is a will and what they owned in Spain.
- 2
Initial consultation
At our office or by video call. You leave with a plan: steps, deadlines, an idea of the taxes and our fees.
Paid consultation: 60 € - 3
We handle the estate
Certificates, notary, taxes and registrations, keeping you informed in English throughout.
What our clients value
A very professional firm, he is our trusted lawyer. Very effective and committed to his clients. Congratulations!!!
He is a wonderful lawyer. He keeps on top of absolutely everything. He is very quick at handling paperwork and no detail of his cases gets past him […]
Pedro was very professional, was available to answer my questions and kept me informed at every step of the process.
Common questions about inheritance in Spain
Which law applies to the estate of a foreigner who owned property in Spain?
Under the EU Succession Regulation, as a general rule the law of the country where the deceased was habitually resident applies, unless they chose the law of their nationality in their will. This also applies to British nationals. We look at your case in detail.
Is there a deadline for Spanish inheritance tax?
Yes. As a general rule six months from the date of death, with the option to request an extension within the first five months. The local plusvalía tax on property also has a six-month deadline. Late filing means surcharges.
Do I have to come to Spain to accept the inheritance?
Usually not. You can grant us a power of attorney before a notary in your country, with an apostille, and we sign for you in Spain.
Do I need a Spanish will if I already have one at home?
It is not compulsory, but a Spanish will covering your Spanish assets usually makes the process much faster and cheaper for your heirs. We advise you on how to make it compatible with your will at home.
Can I refuse an inheritance with debts?
Yes. You can renounce it before a notary, or accept it "with benefit of inventory" so that debts are only paid with the estate's assets. Decide before doing anything that could count as acceptance.
Information last updated in October 2026.
Let us sort out the Spanish side of the estate
Tell us a little about the estate and where the heirs live. We will book a consultation, in person or by video call, and explain the steps and deadlines.
pedro.ortega@icali.com
or use the contact form
Paid initial consultation: 60 €, about 45 minutes, at our office or by video call. No obligation to instruct us afterwards.