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Is a Spanish Will Necessary When You Own Property in Spain?

When you purchase a property in Spain, there’s a lot of paperwork involved — but one question we hear time and time again is:

Do I need to make a Spanish will if I already have a will in my home country?

The short answer is no, it’s not legally required.
A valid will from your home country can normally be used in Spain. But… there’s an important detail many property owners aren’t aware of.

Why a Spanish Will Is Still Highly Recommended

While your foreign will may be legally valid, using it in Spain often makes the inheritance process slower, more complex, and more expensive for your heirs. Families commonly face:

• Multiple translations and legalisations

• International paperwork and procedures

• Longer waiting times

• Higher administrative costs

• Unnecessary stress during an already difficult time

A simple Spanish will, signed before a local notary, prevents all of this. It’s usually arranged in a short appointment and ensures that the inheritance process in Spain is handled much more smoothly.

What Makes a Spanish Will So Helpful?

With a Spanish will, you can:

• Officially confirm that the law of your nationality applies to your estate in Spain (as allowed under EU Regulation 650/2012).

• Avoid delays caused by international document requests.

• Eliminate the need for costly translations and additional legalisation steps.

• Make the entire inheritance process faster, easier, and cheaper for your beneficiaries.

For your family, this can save months of waiting and potentially thousands of euros.

How Do You Create a Spanish Will?

It’s a straightforward and hassle-free process:

1. Make an appointment with a Spanish notary.

2. The notary prepares the document in Spanish according to your wishes.

3. You sign it, and it’s officially registered in the national registry.

The cost is modest, and the peace of mind is invaluable.

Our Recommendation

Although it isn’t mandatory, we — like most legal professionals in Spain — strongly recommend preparing a Spanish will as soon as you become a property owner in Spain.
It’s a small step that can make a huge difference for your loved ones.

If you have questions about buying property in Spain or would like to be connected with a trustworthy lawyer or notary,
Del Sol Estates & Investments is here to help.