Do I have to pay inheritance tax in Tenerife?

Most close relatives receive a 99.9% inheritance tax reduction in Tenerife. This means spouses, children, parents, siblings and grandchildren usually pay almost no tax.

Do I need to travel to Tenerife to complete an inheritance?

No. Most heirs sign a Power of Attorney and the entire process can be completed without travelling to Tenerife.

How long does Tenerife inheritance take?

Most Tenerife inheritance cases take between 1 and 3 months if the death occurred in Spain, or 3 to 6 months if it occurred abroad.

Can I sell an inherited property in Tenerife?

Yes, but only after the inheritance deed has been signed and the property is registered in the heirs' names. All heirs must agree to the sale.

What documents do I need for a Tenerife inheritance?

You need a death certificate, Certificate of Last Wills, the will (if any), passports, NIE numbers, property deeds, and bank information where applicable.

What To Do When Someone Dies in Tenerife: Clear, Practical Steps

When someone dies, the last thing most people want to deal with is paperwork.

But if the person owned property or assets in Tenerife, there are a few practical steps that need sorting out.

It can feel overwhelming at first, particularly if you’re dealing with things from another country. The good news is the process itself is fairly structured once you know where to start.

Here’s how it normally unfolds.

Step 1: Obtain the Death Certificate

The first document you’ll need is the death certificate.

If the death occurred in Tenerife, this is issued by the attending doctor or hospital.

If the person died abroad, the certificate will normally need to be apostilled and translated into Spanish before it can be used here.

Step 2: Register the Death

The death must then be registered with the local Civil Registry.

In practice, this is usually handled by the funeral director as part of the arrangements, so families rarely need to deal with it personally.

Step 3: Check Whether There Is a Spanish Will

Next, it’s important to confirm whether the person left a Spanish will.

This is done by requesting the Certificate of Last Wills, a document that confirms whether a will exists and which notary holds it.

Even if the person lived abroad, this check still has to be made.

Step 4: Gather the Key Documents

Once the inheritance process begins, several documents will normally be required.

These usually include:

Passports of the heirs
NIE numbers
Property deeds
Bank account information
Utility bills
Insurance policies
Any Spanish or foreign wills

Having these ready early tends to make the process much smoother.

Step 5: Begin the Inheritance Process

In Spain, inheritance normally needs to be completed within six months of the death to avoid penalties.

A Spanish notary prepares the inheritance deed, which formally transfers the assets to the heirs.

This is the document that legally confirms who now owns what.

Step 6: File Taxes and Update Ownership

Even though inheritance tax in the Canary Islands is usually very small, the tax declaration still has to be filed.

Once that’s done, any property can be registered in the heirs’ names at the Land Registry, and bank accounts can be released.

If You Live Abroad

Many people dealing with Tenerife inheritance live outside Spain.

In most cases the entire process can be handled remotely by granting Power of Attorney to a lawyer or representative.

Which means there’s no need to travel unless you prefer to sign documents in person.

Sorting out the practical side of things after a loss is never easy.

But once the documents are gathered and the process is underway, things usually move along quite steadily.