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Spanish inheritance law Spanish inheritance law is one of those areas that catches a lot of foreigners by surprise. I’ve spoken to plenty of property owners over the years who assumed they could simply leave their Spanish assets to whoever they liked. Then they discover Spain has its own rules about inheritance. And those rules…

Estate planning isn’t exciting. No one ever says it is.But if you own property in Tenerife, or you’re thinking about buying here, it’s something you should understand properly rather than leave to chance. The Canary Islands, and Tenerife in particular, offer one of the most favourable estate planning environments in Europe. In many cases, far…

Not everyone offering inheritance help in Tenerife is a villain with a briefcase… but they’re not all saints either. Most professionals here are legitimate, registered, and know what they’re doing. But every now and then, you’ll come across poor advice, inflated fees, or services you simply don’t need. When you’re dealing with inheritance, emotions are…

One of the first questions families ask me is: “How long is this going to take?” Fair question. The honest answer is… it depends. It depends on the paperwork, how many heirs are involved, whether there’s a Spanish will, and whether the person passed away in Spain or abroad. But here’s what most families actually…

Every inheritance in Tenerife has to be signed in front of a Spanish notary. There’s no way around that. The good news? Notary fees are regulated by law. So you’re not shopping around for a better “deal”. They all charge roughly the same. Here’s what you’re actually paying for. What Notaries Charge For They’re effectively…

When you start dealing with inheritance in Tenerife, the paperwork suddenly feels very… Spanish. New words. Official sounding documents. Forms with numbers instead of names. So here’s a simple glossary in plain English. No legal waffle. Apostille An international certification added to official documents so they’re legally recognised in Spain. If someone passed away abroad,…

If there’s one thing that slows inheritance down in Tenerife, it’s missing paperwork. Not complicated law.Not dramatic disputes. Just documents that aren’t ready. So here’s a simple checklist you can actually use. Save it. Tick it off. Keep things moving. Essential Documents Make sure you have: If even one of these is missing, expect delays.…

Most heirs don’t live in Tenerife. They’re in the UK. Germany. Scandinavia. Somewhere cold and grey usually. Flying over just to sign paperwork at a notary isn’t always practical. Or cheap. That’s where Power of Attorney comes in. Used properly, it makes the whole inheritance process far simpler. What Is a Power of Attorney? A…

People don’t always think about this part… until it’s too late. But pets are family. And when someone dies in Tenerife, the question comes up quickly: “What happens to the dog?”“What about the cat?” Spanish law now recognises pets as sentient beings. They’re no longer treated like a sofa or a coffee table in the…

Timeshares. They pop up more often than you’d think in Tenerife inheritances. A family thinks they’re inheriting an apartment… and suddenly there’s a points membership with annual maintenance fees attached. It’s not quite the same thing. And it doesn’t work like normal property. Here’s what heirs need to understand. You Are Not Obliged to Accept…