All About Spanish Wills

May 5, 2026

f you own property or assets in Spain but live elsewhere, having a Spanish will is strongly recommended. It cuts bureaucracy, avoids long probate delays, reduces legal costs, and ensures your wishes are followed under Spanish law. Without one, your heirs may face a slow, expensive process, even if everything simply goes to your children.

Do You Really Need a Spanish Will? Yes, Here’s Why

Many non-residents think their home-country will is enough. Legally, it is. Practically? It often causes delays, double legal costs, and cross-border paperwork.

A Spanish will that covers only your Spanish assets is the quickest, easiest way to ensure your estate is handled smoothly.

Key Benefits of a Spanish Will

Faster inheritance process in Spain
Lower legal fees (no cross-border probate)
Clear instructions for your Spanish property and assets
Less stress for your heirs

Avoiding Probate Delays

If you rely solely on a foreign will, it must first go through probate in your home country. Only then can Spanish authorities begin their own process meaning months or even years of waiting.

A Spanish will bypass all of this.

Owning Assets in Multiple Countries? Make Separate Wills

If you own property in more than one country, you should have one will per country, each covering only the assets in that location. Mixing assets from different countries in one will can cause legal complications and slow everything down.

A Spanish will bypass all of this.

Non-Residents Can Follow Their Home Country’s Inheritance Laws

Good news: non-Spanish residents can choose for their estate to follow the inheritance laws of their home country. Many notaries now add a clause to make this explicit.

This protects your wishes especially important if:

You want full freedom of distribution
You prefer not to follow Spain’s forced-heirship rules

I’m Leaving Everything to My Children. Do I Still Need a Will?

Yes. Even if everything goes to your kids, the process is far simpler with a Spanish will. Without one, your heirs must go through:

A deed of notoriety
Identification of legal heirs
Extra legal documents and potential additional fees

A will eliminates unnecessary bureaucracy and avoids disputes.

Make Inheritance Easy for Your Loved Ones

A Spanish will is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to protect your family from delays, confusion, and avoidable expenses. It ensures:

Your wishes are clear
Local authorities can act quickly
Your children inherit without stress

Need Help Creating a Spanish Will?

We guide you through the process, liaise with notaries, and ensure your will reflects your final wishes in a double column document for ease of understanding for everyone involved.