Inheritance Lawyers in Galicia, Spain
Legal assistance for foreign heirs, families and executors dealing with wills, probate and inheritance matters in Spain.
ACYL Abogados provides legal assistance in inheritance and succession matters throughout Galicia and Spain for both resident and non-resident clients.
For more than 30 years, our lawyers have advised families, heirs and executors in national and international inheritances involving Spanish property, bank accounts, investments and family estates.
Our team combines extensive experience in Spanish succession law with deep knowledge of Galician Civil Law, allowing us to provide strategic advice in matters involving inheritance tax, hereditary rights, wills, probate procedures and cross-border succession conflicts.
Whether you are planning your estate, inheriting assets in Spain, or facing disputes among heirs, we provide clear legal guidance and practical representation at every stage of the process.
How We Assist Heirs and Families
Our firm has extensive experience in hereditary advice, in the judicial and extrajudicial field, both in national and international inheritances — especially in Galicia, with its own foral law and specific tax benefits.
Both testators and heirs require legal advice: the testator, to choose the most suitable testamentary disposition and optimise the tax position of their heirs; and the heir, to make informed decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of an inheritance with debts, their position within a community of heirs, the inheritance tax settlement, and the partition and division of the estate.
Our services include:
- Inheritance tax settlement for residents and non-residents
- Recovery of life insurance proceeds
- Testamentary and intestate succession, legacies and modal charges
- Widow's usufruct
- Galician Civil Law of Inheritance
- International inheritance
- Hereditary partitions
- Declaration of heirs proceedings
- Drafting wills in Spain
Galician Civil Law & Inheritance Tax
Galicia has its own civil law regulations and tax framework affecting inheritance and succession matters. These regional rules may significantly influence hereditary rights, usufruct arrangements, family succession agreements and the final inheritance tax burden.
Understanding the interaction between Spanish national law and Galician regional legislation is essential to avoid future disputes and unnecessary tax costs.
Remote Representation for Overseas Clients
Many of our inheritance clients live outside Spain and cannot travel during the succession process. ACYL Abogados regularly manages inheritance matters remotely through a Power of Attorney, allowing us to act on behalf of our clients before notaries, tax authorities, banks, land registries and Spanish courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I inherit property in Spain if I live abroad?
Yes. Non-residents may inherit assets located in Spain, although specific tax and administrative obligations will apply.
Q. Do I need a tax number to inherit in Spain?
Yes. All foreign heirs are required to obtain a Spanish NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) before completing any inheritance procedure. We manage the entire application process on your behalf.
Q. Do I need to travel to Spain for an inheritance procedure?
Not necessarily. Many inheritance matters can be handled remotely through a Power of Attorney.
Q. What happens if the inheritance includes debts?
Spanish law allows heirs to accept or reject an inheritance. In certain cases, acceptance subject to inventory limitations (beneficio de inventario) may be the most appropriate approach, protecting heirs from personal liability for the deceased's debts.
Q. Is inheritance tax different in Galicia?
Yes. Galicia applies its own regional tax reductions and allowances which may significantly reduce the final tax burden, in some cases reaching near-total exemption for close relatives.
Q. Can a foreign will apply in Spain?
In many cases yes, particularly under the EU Succession Regulation (Brussels IV), although the will may need to comply with Spanish procedural requirements.
Q. How long does probate take in Spain?
The timeframe depends on the complexity of the estate and the number of heirs. Many matters can be resolved extrajudicially within a few months.
Luis Antonio Cores Castro
Senior Partner — Litigation & International Law
Practicing lawyer since 1994, member of the Bar Associations of A Coruña and Pontevedra. Extensive experience in international inheritance proceedings and cross-border succession matters.
Inheritance legal assistance in Galicia & Spain
Speak directly with one of our senior lawyers. We will assess your situation and advise on the most efficient legal approach for your inheritance matter in Spain.
Request a confidential assessment