Powers of attorney
A large number of properties in Spain are jointly owned by spouses, partners or sometimes by brothers and sisters who have inherited property from their parents. It is not always possible for all the joint owners to travel when it is necessary to sign documents, attend banks and local authorities who may then require proof […]
Selling your Spanish property
Selling your Spanish property When you are selling property in Spain it is important to get independent legal advice. It is particularly important to ensure that your funds can be transferred back to Holland, Belgium, the UK or elsewhere having completed all the necessary documentation on leaving. If you have been resident in Spain and […]
Reasons to review your wills in 2015
How Modelo 720 affects inheritance tax This is a change in working practice and enforcement of existing law rather than a change in the law. Since December 2012, there has been a requirement on Spanish tax residents to declare all overseas assets to the hacienda (the Spanish tax office), if the value of those assets […]
TAX DEMANDS SENT TO NON RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNERS
The Spanish tax authorities – Hacienda – have begun a new campaign to ensure that non-residents who own property in Spain do pay their taxes. For many years we have been advising property owners of the importance of paying this tax annually. Now the tax authorities are actually sending demands giving an estimated or provisional […]
Have you got a will – Important changes from 2015
Free disposition of assets has a long tradition in England & Wales and you will have heard stories of wealthy individuals leaving all their assets to friends or even the local dog’s home. In one recent case a Judge had to decide if the owners of a local Chinese restaurant could receive their inheritance from […]
Latest news on inheritance tax reclaims
In September 2014, the European court has decided that Spain has been discriminating against non residents by charging inheritance tax where a resident would be exempt from tax. The decision in Commission v Spain Case C-127/12 states that this discrimination is unlawful. At present most inheritance tax allowances in Spain are regional and only apply […]
ENGLISH INTESTACY LAW CHANGES
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO ENGLISH INTESTACY LAWS The law of England and Wales on intestacy, dying without a will, has been changed. The Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Act of 2014 has substantially changed the law. Previously where a husband, wife or civil partner had not left a will and there were no children the surviving spouse […]
The Spanish Economy and Tax Cuts
This last year has seen an alarming rise in the number of young people leaving Spain to seek work abroad. The UK has been one of the most popular destinations with a 50% increase in the number of Spanish people registering for a National Insurance number in 2013. Traditionally the northern Europeans have come to […]
Finding Lost Relatives and Heirs to Spanish Property, By De Cotta Law
As a law firm serving the international community in Spain, we are often approached by ‘heir-hunters’ or companies who specialise in tracing lost relatives. Over the last 30 or more years of immigration, residence and property purchase by British nationals many properties have been purchased. In some cases these people have lost contact with their […]
What to do if you suffer a bereavement in Spain – Wills, Probate and Inheritance in Spain
Many British ex-patriots move to Spain later in life to enjoy their retirement in a warmer climate. An unfortunate consequence of this is that when they eventually pass away, the next of kin, whether here in Spain or back in the UK are confronted with dealing with the funeral arrangements and the inheritance matters. This […]
Holiday Home Owners Automatically Debited Taxes & Fines – The Spanish Tax Office is now issuing private bank embargoes for failure to pay non-resident taxes
With Spain’s desire to improve its public accounts deficit, the tax collecting infrastructure has been significantly improved, enabling the tax office to recoup back taxes faster and more efficiently than ever before. This now commonly includes automatic debiting of owed taxes and late payment fines direct from non-resident bank accounts in Spain. As a holiday […]
OPEN DAY – FREE CONSULTATIONS – TENERIFE – 18TH SEPTEMBER 2013
De Cotta Law, the Firm of English Lawyers and Spanish abogados with offices in the Canary Islands and Mainland Spain, are holding an Open Day in Tenerife on Wednesday 18th September 2013, from 9:30 to 17:00. Especially for the Open Day on Wednesday 18th September De Cotta Law specialist Barrister Overseas, Sandra Wrightson, will be […]