Spain · Inheritance Law · For International Families
We are English-speaking inheritance lawyers based in Spain. We guide international heirs through every stage of a Spanish succession — from locating the will and identifying legal heirs to accepting or renouncing the estate and settling taxes.
Why it matters
In Spain, heirs have just six months from the date of death to accept or renounce an inheritance and pay inheritance tax — or face surcharges and penalties. If the deceased owned property, assets or bank accounts in Spain, the process involves the Spanish Civil Registry, notaries, the tax authorities and the Land Registry.
As a non-resident heir, doing this alone — in Spanish, from another country — is extremely difficult. We manage the entire process on your behalf, so you never have to travel to Spain unless you want to.
Our services
Under Spanish law, the rules of succession differ from other countries. We identify all legal heirs — whether or not there is a will — and explain your rights clearly.
Learn more →We search the Spanish Will Registry (Registro de Actos de Última Voluntad) to confirm whether a will exists and obtain a certified copy of its contents.
Learn more →We trace all assets belonging to the estate — property, bank accounts, vehicles, investments and any other assets registered in Spain under the deceased's name.
Learn more →We prepare and sign the Deed of Acceptance at the notary, file the inheritance tax return, and register the assets in your name — including any Spanish property.
Learn more →If the estate has debts that exceed its value, or you simply choose not to accept, we process the formal renunciation before a Spanish notary on your behalf.
Learn more →Spanish inheritance tax varies widely by region and by the relationship between heir and deceased. We calculate your exact liability and ensure you pay no more than the law requires.
Learn more →Many heirs are entitled to significant reductions in inheritance tax. We apply every available regional reduction, exemption and bonus to minimise your tax bill.
Learn more →If you own assets in Spain, a Spanish will simplifies matters enormously for your heirs. We advise on and draft Spanish wills in English, signed before a notary.
Learn more →In-depth articles explaining Spanish inheritance law for international families — from the six-month deadline to regional tax rules and the role of the notary.
Read the blog →How it works
Tell us about the estate. We assess the situation and explain the process, the timeline and the costs — with no obligation.
We obtain all necessary documents: death certificate, will extract, property registrations and asset valuations.
We calculate and file the inheritance tax return, and prepare the notarial deed of acceptance or partition.
Assets are registered in your name. We hand over all documents and confirm the inheritance is fully resolved.
Jacob Salama
Abogado Fiscal Internacional
Colegiado n.º 11.294 — Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Málaga
Director, Salama Legal SLP
Who you will be working with
My name is Jacob Salama. I am a registered international tax lawyer (Colegiado n.º 11.294, Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Málaga) and director of Salama Legal SLP. I am dedicated to helping international families navigate Spanish inheritance law — in English, from wherever you are in the world.
Over the years I have guided clients from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and dozens of other countries through every stage of a Spanish succession: locating wills and assets, calculating and minimising inheritance tax, preparing notarial deeds and registering property. I handle each case personally and keep you informed at every step.
If you have recently lost a family member who owned assets in Spain, I am here to help you understand your position and manage the process for you — with no obligation for the initial consultation.
Speak to Jacob DirectlyLocations we cover
Whether the property or assets are in Marbella, Mallorca, Tenerife, Valencia or anywhere else in Spain, we handle the inheritance process on your behalf.
The six-month deadline in Spain is strict. The sooner you contact us, the more options you have. We offer a free initial consultation with no obligation.