Becoming a Spanish resident – where do I pay my tax
The Double taxation relief treaty between Spain and the UK is not an EU agreement and at least initially, will not be affected by Brexit. It may be revisited in future years once the dust has settled on any deal or no-deal. Under its terms a British national who spends more than 183 days resident […]
Children travelling from or leaving Spain – Important changes
From 1st September a new law has come into effect about children leaving Spanish territory. It is particularly important where a child is not travelling with a parent. These security measures mean that any parent who wants their children to travel with grandparents, other family members or friends must give their consent by completing an […]
Recovering and protecting Spanish assets
Spanish property values are increasing and if a bankrupt individual or an insolvent company owns assets in Spain it is a good time to place a charge on the property and to ultimately seek recovery for the bankruptcy or insolvency in the UK. We act for Trustees in bankruptcy and Administrators and Liquidators of UK […]
Pre-nuptial contracts and matrimonial regimes
The concept of a “matrimonial regime” is one that is not familiar to people from the UK. In Spain and many other European countries when people marry, they either elect or decide on a matrimonial regime or, in default, the property after marriage becomes Community of property – known as gananciales. In the UK there […]
For UK nationals living in Spain
The British government is providing current and vital information for all British people moving to or living in Spain. This includes information and guidance on passports, healthcare, working, pensions and much more. This advice is up to date so you know what changes can affect you post Brexit. This vital resource can be found at […]
Good news for Andalucian property owners
More – inheritance tax allowances At the start of 2018 the region had massively increased the inheritance tax allowance for a spouse, child, parent or grandchild of a deceased person to 1,000,000€ per beneficiary. This means someone with a spouse and three children could leave an estate of up to four million to them completely […]
Arrangements for Children – Custody, Visits and maintenance
We have an international community in many parts of Spain and there is an increasing need to ensure any arrangements made for children benefit the child and are workable. This is particularly important where parents live in different countries or may move in the future for work or other reasons. We have seen a number […]
Litigation in Spain
As a law firm with clients from many different countries, we have the advantage of being able to advise companies and individuals in their own language on all aspects of Spanish litigation. This can range from debt enforcement to complex property matters including title and boundary disputes as well as seeking injunctions and court orders. […]
Why a will is important for Spanish property owners
When a property-owning spouse or family member dies having left no will in Spain or in their country of residence the procedure can be very costly and time consuming. In the UK you can generally notify the Land Registry, the banks etc to transfer property into your sole name if you are the surviving spouse. […]
Do I need a lawyer when I sell my property
The simple answer to this question is Yes. Why? Firstly, the taxation on sales of property is case specific and whilst you may be given an estimate by the estate agents, each particular sale should be reviewed by a lawyer. Secondly, with the licencing of rural properties now an important issue, you don´t want to […]
Property injunctions – Boundary disputes
In Spain it is possible to obtain court injunctions where there is evidence that a neighbour is building on part of your property or building without a licence and the construction affects your property rights. For example, if you live in a village house and a neighbour starts to build over a terrace or adjoining […]
Reduced inheritance tax in Andalucia
Andalucia has always been one of the most attractive places in Europe to buy property, with a wonderful climate, culture and beaches. Now it also has one of the most favourable inheritance tax regimes for spouses, children and families. At the start of 2018 the region massively increased the inheritance tax allowance for a spouse, […]