If you are inheriting property, bank accounts or any asset in Costa del Sol — and you live in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway or anywhere else outside Spain — you have six months from the date of death to file the Spanish Inheritance Tax. Six months in which most heirs are also dealing with grief, family arrangements, and a foreign legal system in a language they don’t speak.
Our office is in Fuengirola, in the heart of Costa del Sol, just 30 minutes from Marbella, 20 minutes from Málaga and 10 minutes from Mijas. We handle inheritances in English for clients across Costa del Sol on a daily basis — about 50% of our cases involve at least one heir who lives outside Spain.
Why you need an English-speaking inheritance lawyer in Costa del Sol
- Language matters. Spanish notaries draft deeds in Spanish. The Junta de Andalucía Tax Office responds in Spanish. The Land Registry, the bank, the town hall — all Spanish. A bilingual lawyer who can translate every document, attend the notary in your name, and explain plainly what you are signing avoids costly misunderstandings.
- Andalucía’s 99% bonification on Spanish Inheritance Tax applies to direct family members — spouse, children, grandchildren, parents — and it applies to non-residents from the EU/EEA and the UK as well. After ECJ case C-127/12 (2014) and Spanish Supreme Court rulings (2018-2022), discrimination against non-residents was abolished. But you have to claim it correctly.
- EU Regulation 650/2012 governs cross-border inheritances. Default rule: the law of the deceased’s habitual residence at the time of death. Exception: the deceased could have chosen, in their will, the law of their nationality. We unravel which rule applies to your case.
- Six-month deadline. File late and you pay penalties of 5% to 20% on top of the tax, plus interest. We routinely handle cases with two months left on the clock.
- You don’t need to fly to Spain. With a power of attorney signed before a notary in your country (apostilled and translated), we handle every step on your behalf. About 80% of our non-resident clients never travel during the inheritance process.
Cities we cover in Costa del Sol
- Marbella (premium properties: La Zagaleta, Sierra Blanca, Puerto Banús, Guadalmina, Nueva Andalucía).
- Mijas (Mijas Costa, Mijas Pueblo, La Cala, El Faro, Riviera del Sol, Calahonda).
- Fuengirola (where our office is located, plus Carvajal, Los Boliches, Torreblanca, El Higuerón).
- Benalmádena (Costa, Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel, Torrequebrada, Pueblo Andaluz).
- Torremolinos (La Carihuela, Bajondillo, Playamar, Los Álamos, Montemar).
- Málaga capital (city centre, Pedregalejo, El Limonar, Cerrado de Calderón, La Caleta).
- Estepona, Manilva, Casares, San Pedro de Alcántara, Benahavís, Sotogrande.
What we do for non-resident heirs
Spanish Inheritance Tax filing (Modelo 650)
We prepare and file the Spanish Inheritance Tax return before the Junta de Andalucía within the 6-month deadline (extendable for another 6). We claim the 99% Andalucía bonification, the up-to-€1,000,000 reduction for the deceased’s main home, and any additional reductions that apply (life insurance, family business, kinship reduction).
Plusvalía Municipal (local capital gains tax)
Each town hall (Marbella, Málaga, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos…) has its own tax ordinance. Since the Constitutional Court ruling of 26 October 2021, you can choose between two calculation methods (objective vs. real). We calculate both and pick the lower.
NIE (Foreigner’s Tax Number) for each heir
Every non-resident heir needs a Spanish NIE before tax can be paid or property transferred. We obtain the NIE for you — usually within 1-3 weeks — through the Oficina de Extranjería in Málaga or Fuengirola.
Inheritance deed before a Spanish notary
We draft and sign the Escritura de Aceptación y Adjudicación de Herencia on your behalf. The deed transfers ownership formally. We coordinate with notaries in Marbella, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos and Málaga capital.
Property registration
The deed is filed at the relevant Land Registry within 60 days. Once registered, the property is yours and you can sell, rent, refinance or hold.
Bank accounts, brokers, vehicles
We notify Spanish banks (Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell, Bankinter, ING) and brokers, present the death certificate and certificate of last wills, and arrange the closure or transfer of accounts. Vehicles need a separate transfer at Tráfico.
UK probate / cross-border coordination
If the deceased made a UK will, we obtain the Grant of Probate, apostille it (Hague Convention), arrange a sworn translation, and present everything to the Spanish notary. We coordinate with UK solicitors when needed.
EU Regulation 650/2012
We determine which national law applies (habitual residence vs. chosen national law) and obtain the European Certificate of Succession when assets are spread across multiple EU countries.
Worked example — Costa del Sol inheritance
Mrs. Smith was a UK resident who passed away owning:
- An apartment in Carvajal (Fuengirola) worth €380,000.
- A bank account in CaixaBank with €45,000.
- A vehicle registered in Spain.
Her two adult children, both UK residents, inherit equally. Applying Andalucía’s regional rules (yes, even for UK non-residents, after the 2018 Supreme Court rulings):
- Total taxable estate: €425,000 → €212,500 each.
- Kinship reduction (Group II, adult children): €1,000,000 — fully covers the share, so taxable base = 0.
- Inheritance Tax: €0 each, but Modelo 650 must still be filed.
- Plusvalía Municipal at Fuengirola town hall: ~€800-€1,500 depending on calculation method.
- Notary fees: ~€600-€900.
- Land Registry fees: ~€400.
- Our professional fees: ~€2,500-€3,000.
Total cost: under €5,000 for a €425,000 estate. Compare with what would happen under state rules without the regional bonification: ~€60,000 in tax.
How we work with non-resident clients
- Free first consultation by phone or video call, in English. We diagnose your case, explain bonifications, list documents to gather, and quote a fixed fee.
- Engagement letter with fixed fees. No hourly billing.
- Power of attorney signed in your country, apostilled, sent to us. From that point we handle everything.
- Email status reports every 2 weeks until the inheritance is fully registered.
- Final delivery: deed copy, registry certificate, tax payment receipts, all documentation neatly indexed.
Fees for non-resident inheritances
Standard non-resident inheritance in Costa del Sol (one property, up to 3 heirs, no litigation): €2,500-€3,500 in professional fees, plus government taxes, notary and registry fees. We provide a fixed-fee written quote before you commit.
Languages we work in
English (native level), Spanish (mother tongue), French. For Dutch, German and Scandinavian-language documents we work with sworn translators we trust.
Frequently asked questions
I am a UK resident, do I pay inheritance tax in both Spain and UK?
You pay Spanish Inheritance Tax in Spain on Spanish-located assets, claiming Andalucía’s 99% regional bonification if you are direct family. UK Inheritance Tax falls on the deceased’s estate (not on you as recipient) and only applies if the deceased’s worldwide estate exceeds the UK nil-rate band. There is generally no double taxation, but each case requires individual analysis.
How long does an inheritance in Costa del Sol take?
3-6 months for a clean case. 6-9 months with international elements (apostilles, translations, foreign probate). 12-24 months with litigation among heirs.
Do I need to fly to Spain?
No. With a power of attorney signed before a notary in your country (apostilled and translated), we handle every step. The first time you “see” the property is usually when you sell it.
What documents do I need to send you to start?
1) Death certificate (apostilled if foreign), 2) any will the deceased made (Spanish, UK, or other), 3) copy of your passport, 4) details of Spanish assets you know of (deeds, IBI tax bills, bank statements). With these we provide a fixed-fee quote and start.
What is the deadline?
Six months from the date of death, extendable for another six if you submit the prórroga request within the first six. After that, penalties apply.
Can you handle inheritances if I’m not yet a UK/EU resident? (USA, Canada, Australia)
Yes. The principles are the same; the documentation differs. US, Canadian and Australian estates require apostilles and sworn translations. We have handled cases for clients from California, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Melbourne.
What if the property has been vacant for years and there are bills owed?
Pending utility bills, IBI (council tax) and community fees from before the death are part of the estate’s liabilities and reduce the taxable base. We obtain certificates from each provider and reconcile before signing the deed.
Free consultation with an English-speaking inheritance lawyer
Call +34 900 525 939 or use our contact form. First consultation is free, with no obligation. We respond the same day in English. Office in Fuengirola, service across Costa del Sol.
Read our full guide: Inheritance in Spain for non-residents (2026)