PROPERTY SEARCH
When you die in Spain, it is not just about what will happen – it's also about what won't
Paul Blackmoore, Practice Principal at Thy Will Be Done, explains why proper estate planning is about more than just saving money upfront
I often read on forums that a Will in Spain can be organised directly through a notary, effectively cutting out the "middle man" and saving €40 or so on average against our own fees. This is 100% true – if you are simply looking to save money upfront, going directly to a notary will always be cheaper than using ourselves to produce your legal documents and then paying a notary for their services afterwards.
However, let's take a minute to remember WHY we are organising a Will for your Spanish estate in the first place. It is to guarantee that your wishes are adhered to AND to ENSURE that your beneficiaries have as little hassle, expense and cost as possible once you have died.
Clients of Thy Will Be Done are ASSURED of the following:
- Their beneficiaries will not need to travel to Spain to arrange an NIE number – our UK office can easily organise this directly with them and the Spanish Consulate.
- Their beneficiaries will not have to seek out an English-speaking Abogado (solicitor) in Spain and pay for that Abogado to have Power of Attorney to act for them. If we are nominated as executors within a Spanish Will, we will immediately liaise directly with the UK beneficiaries in English and the Spanish authorities in Spanish.
- Their beneficiaries will not have to pay an unknown amount for Spanish probate to be conducted, as our probate fees are guaranteed in advance at just 1.75% + IVA of the estate value as standard, or even lower at only 1.16% + IVA if the client has Priority Client Cover in place (just €4.99 per month with no minimum contract).
Their beneficiaries will not have to deal with two legal entities – one for the Spanish estate and one for the UK estate – as we take care of probate in both jurisdictions seamlessly at the same time.
So, when considering if it's worth cutting out the middleman, you should perhaps consider just one question:
What would your beneficiaries think?
Call us Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm (except red days), on 865 756 058, and a convenient time can be arranged for us to talk through your options, either over the phone or (for those clients who are close to our Spanish office in Benijófar) a face-to-face meeting can be arranged.
Our advice is always FREE – you only pay if you engage us to produce your legal documents.
Thy Will Be Done – so your beneficiaries WON'T!
