Málaga · Costa del Sol · Spain — International Practice Group

Legal counsel for those building a life outside their home country

We advise foreign residents, remote professionals and investors on immigration, property and inheritance matters under Spanish law.

20+
Years in Practice
980+
Client Reviews on Record
7
Offices, Málaga Province
9
Languages Spoken In-House
Counsel available in
🇬🇧English
🇪🇸Español
🇫🇷Français
🇵🇹Português
🇮🇹Italiano
🇺🇦Українська
🇵🇱Polski
🇷🇺Русский
★ 4.9 / 5 — 980 Google Reviews
Colegio de Abogados de Málaga
Fixed-Fee Engagements
Remote Consultations Available
Practice Areas

Counsel across the matters that matter most to foreign residents

Property Investment

Acquisition counsel for buyers who don't yet know the local risks

The Costa del Sol property market carries quirks that catch foreign buyers off guard — undeclared debts, planning violations, ambiguous boundaries. We've represented international clients from offer to notary completion for two decades.

  • Full legal due diligence on the property
  • Purchase contract reviewed and negotiated in English
  • NIE and bank account setup assistance
  • Notary representation on completion day
  • Post-sale tax registration and utility transfer
Speak with a Property Lawyer
€500K
Avg. Transaction Value
9–11%
Total Purchase Costs
Due diligence covers: land registry status, urban planning compliance, outstanding debts, community fees, IBI tax history
Engagement Process

From initial call to matter resolved

Phase I
Initial Consultation
A 30-minute call with a specialist lawyer. We assess your situation and outline the realistic path forward.
Phase II
Fixed-Fee Proposal
A written quote in English covering exactly what's included. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Phase III
Remote-First Handling
Digital signatures, a secure document portal, and status updates in your preferred language.
Phase IV
Ongoing Counsel
Tax filings, renewals, and continued advice as your circumstances in Spain evolve.
Client Record — Marbella, 2024

"They handled everything, from our NIE to the property deed. Three months later we were living in Marbella. We needed a team that spoke our language — legally and literally."

James & Sarah M. — British buyers, residential acquisition
Scope of Engagement

Every procedural step, accounted for

I. NIE
Tax ID Certificate
The foundation of any legal process in Spain. We prepare and accompany the application.
II. Registro
Municipal Registration
Empadronamiento at your Spanish address, required for residency and public services.
III. Visado
Visa Application
Full dossier preparation — financial proof, insurance, apostilled documents — and submission.
IV. TIE
Residence Card
Issued after 90 days. We manage the appointment, biometrics and final submission.
V. Renovación
Renewals
Tracked three months ahead of expiry. Your legal status is never left to chance.
VI. Nacionalidad
Spanish Nationality
After ten years of residency (two for Ibero-American nationals), we guide the application.
Step I
Assessment
We identify the correct route for your profile
Step II
Documentation
A personalised checklist of exactly what's required
Step III
Filing
Your lawyer prepares and submits on your behalf
Step IV
Continuity
Renewals managed as your situation develops

Uncertain which route applies?

A free 30-minute assessment call, no obligation attached.

Family & Inheritance

Estate decisions that protect your family abroad

Family and succession law in Spain differs structurally from UK, German or US frameworks. The decisions you make — or fail to make — about your estate carry consequences your family will inherit.

Key Provision

"Without a Spanish will, EU Succession Regulation determines who inherits your estate — not you."

34%
Maximum inheritance tax rate
With planning, the effective rate is materially lower
Family Law

When circumstances change

Divorce
Divorce in Spain
International divorces add jurisdictional complexity — applicable law, asset division across countries.
JurisdictionAsset DivisionMediation
Custody
Child Custody
Cross-border custody arrangements, relocation requests, and Hague Convention matters.
CustodyRelocationHague Convention
Prenuptial
Prenuptial Agreements
Protecting assets brought into marriage, valid under Spanish law and recognised internationally.
Asset ProtectionInternational
Wills & Succession

Your estate, governed by your intent

A Spanish will is among the most consequential documents a foreign resident will sign. Without one, Spanish intestacy rules decide who inherits.

  • Spanish will drafted and notarised in English
  • Coordination with your home-country will
  • Inheritance tax planning and mitigation
  • Estate administration following bereavement
  • Transfer of Spanish assets to heirs abroad
Arrange a Spanish Will
6 Months
Deadline
To accept or renounce an inheritance under Spanish law.
€1M+
Estates Administered
Combined value of international estates handled across the practice.
Two Wills
Recommended Structure
One Spanish, one home-country — coordinated to avoid conflict.

A will is provision, not paperwork

One notary appointment, conducted in English, fixed fee.

Property acquisition, conducted without exposure

The Costa del Sol property market moves quickly. Our role is to ensure no document is signed without full understanding, and no defect surfaces after completion.

Request Legal ReviewView Full Cost Breakdown →
I.
Offer & Reservation
The reservation contract is reviewed before any deposit is paid
II.
Due Diligence
Full legal search: title, debts, planning status, community fees, IBI
III.
Arras Contract
Purchase contract reviewed and negotiated in the buyer's favour
IV.
Notary Completion
Attendance in person, or representation by power of attorney
V.
Post-Sale Registration
Land registry, tax filings, and utility transfers handled in full
Why Independent Counsel Matters

In Spain, the estate agent represents the seller. Without independent counsel, no one verifies debts, illegal extensions, or planning violations on your behalf.

1 in 3
properties reviewed by the practice carry at least one issue requiring resolution before completion
Cost Transparency

The full cost of acquisition, stated plainly

Based on a €400,000 property in Andalucía. A precise figure is provided at consultation.

ItemDetailApprox.
Transfer Tax (ITP)Resale properties, Andalucía7% — €28,000
Notary FeesPublic deed of sale€800 – €1,200
Land RegistryProperty registration€400 – €700
Legal FeesFull conveyancing service1% — €4,000
Mortgage CostsWhere financing is used€1,000 – €2,000
Total Acquisition CostOn top of purchase price~9–11%
Property Categories

From apartments to estate acquisitions

Resale & New-Build
Apartments & Flats
Community debts, statutes and building licences verified before commitment.
€150K+
Typical Range, Costa del Sol
Detached Property
Villas & Houses
Plot boundaries, building permits, pool legality and land classification reviewed.
€400K+
Typical Villa Range, Marbella Area
Residency-Linked
Golden Visa Acquisitions
€500,000+ purchases structured to satisfy Golden Visa requirements from the outset.
€500K+
Minimum Investment Threshold

Found a property under consideration?

Send us the listing. We flag material issues within 24 hours, at no charge.

Case Results

Matters we've resolved for clients like you

Immigration

Digital nomad visa secured in six weeks for a remote engineering team lead

A UK-based software engineer relocating with a partner and two children needed the full dossier — income verification, private health cover, apostilled documents — prepared and filed before a lease deadline. We compressed the standard ten-week timeline by pre-clearing documentation issues before submission.

Client: Software Engineer, United Kingdom
6 Wks
Approval Time
Real Estate

Undisclosed debt of €34,000 identified before completion on a Marbella villa

A German buyer's reservation contract was already signed when due diligence revealed an unpaid community debt attached to the property, undisclosed by the listing agent. We renegotiated the purchase price to reflect the liability before proceeding to notary.

Client: Private Investor, Germany
€34K
Price Adjustment Secured
Inheritance

Cross-border estate settled in four months following the death of a Swedish resident

A long-term Swedish resident died without a Spanish will, leaving an apartment in Fuengirola and accounts in two countries. We coordinated with the family's Swedish counsel to apply EU Succession Regulation correctly, avoiding double taxation and resolving the estate within four months.

Client: Estate of a Swedish National
4 Mo.
Estate Resolution Time
Golden Visa

Golden Visa structured for a family acquiring two linked properties

A Ukrainian family sought residency through a €620,000 acquisition split across two adjoining apartments. We structured the purchase to satisfy the single-investment threshold while preserving the option to sell either unit independently in future.

Client: Family Investor, Ukraine
€620K
Structured Investment
Legal Insights

Reference material, before you act

Discuss your situation with a specialist lawyer

Every matter is different. Describe your circumstances and a lawyer from the relevant practice area will respond — typically within a few hours.

Phone & WhatsApp
951 561 002 / 670 301 010
Email
benalmadena@rojanovera.com
Offices
Benalmádena · Fuengirola · Málaga
Hours
Mon–Thu 9:00–14:00 & 15:00–18:00 · Fri 9:00–14:00 · Remote consultations available
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