Spain Explained

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 02:06 pm. Most of our British clients are worried about the implications of Brexit. In this article we look at some possible tax consequences in Spain; helping you take matters in hand and provide peace of mind for you and your family.   Have you ever considered donating […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. A judge has ruled that a clause included in 30% of mortgages in Spain is illegal. Ábaco’s legal department explain why and what this might mean for you. In the past, Spanish banks have not always been transparent when selling their products, particularly when it comes […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:09 pm. As speculation continues into the implications of severing ties with Europe, there are some emerging realities that we should already be contemplating. The impact on donation and inheritance tax in Spain is one. There are many imponderables when it comes to considering what the implications of […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. How is it best to travel around Spain’s 500,000 sq km of land?  With 17 autonomous communities and countryside varying between the rugged and the rolling it really is worth exploring if you have the transport to do so. And if you don’t? You can take […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:58 pm. Ever wondered what an official translation is? Can just anybody produce official translations? In David Ruiz’s mini guide he includes his advice for hiring an official translator. An official translation is an accurate and legal translation of a document completed by an official translator. Official translations […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:07 pm. Anthony Dewhurst had seen a property he wanted to buy. With a little extra funding, it could be made even more ideal for his family’s trips out to Spain. But could he get a mortgage to help with the cost? Anthony and his family are regular […]

Last updated on May 8th, 2020 at 08:02 pm. With a hot, dry climate you might have low expectations of what’s possible when it comes to creating colour in your garden. However, you might be surprised. Nico Clinton provides some gardening tips to help your garden in Spain flourish. In the height of the summer, […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Some people have a travelling vein in their body. They simply can’t stay in one place for too long. Some people take advantage of their early twenties to tour foreign countries whilst others prefer to wait until they retire. Some, make it a life choice earlier. […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:58 pm. They are both very important documents and yet many people haven’t even heard of them, let alone know what the difference is.  Not until they want to sell their property that is. Jessica Martinez explains why they’re so vital. Every new property in Spain must be […]

Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 03:12 pm. There are different rules in Spain to other European countries when it comes to dangerous dogs. Dogs are not banned in the way they are in the UK but the owners and those walking a dangerous dog in Spain must be licensed. The law that governs […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:10 pm. Two changes within Spanish law have meant that our inheritance department has been very busy this year. In our question and answer section we try to address some of the queries that we have been receiving.  I would like to donate my property in Spain to […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Most people know that there is an airport in Malaga but not much else about this city in the south of Spain. For those with a base in Marbella or Fuengirola, Malaga is the airport they will probably use, although Gibraltar is also another option. It […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:08 pm. The community of owners is an important and influential group of people in Spain. Most properties belong to a community and you should check out the implications before you buy. The community of owners is a group with a firm foundation and legal status in Spain […]

Last updated on September 16th, 2020 at 03:52 pm. When you have made the decision, for whatever reason, that it’s time to move on, you want to sell your Spanish property as quickly as possible. In this article we look at an unforeseen complication that might hold up your sale. Once you have secured a […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:59 pm. As concern about what  Brexit will mean for those living in another European country rises, some people have wondered just what it would take for them to go one step further and become a Spanish citizen. Until now, the benefits of this move for those living in […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:09 pm. Ábaco is a member of AIPP. In this article we explain a little  more about this organisation and why membership can provide added assurance surrounding the services we offer. When buying a house in Spain you want to be sure that you are given the correct […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. How to drive legally in Spain is one of the most talked about and written about subjects amongst the expat population. We frequently receive questions from clients directly and on the forum about licences, vehicle registrations and driving laws in Spain. Here, Graham Shelton of www.spanish-number-plates.com answers some of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. The body of the Spanish writer Federico García Lorca remains buried somewhere in southern Spain. Murdered by Franco’s Spanish nationalists, he remains one of the many individual tragedies of the Spanish Civil War. Lorca is one of the most important Spanish poets and dramatists of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Most people who are wanting to explore Spain will visit its major cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada. Each one is special and different and provides examples of Spain’s rich past. But if you want to travel to somewhere a little different that has a […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. A new inheritance law has been causing lots of discussion amongst foreigners living in Spain.  The Regulation (EU) No. 650/2012 and the creation of a European Certificate of Succession has raised many questions about the validity of existing Spanish wills covering property in Spain for those […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:11 pm. Some people make a choice that they would rather donate their property in Spain to family or friends rather than pass it on as inheritance when they die. Taking this decision needs careful consideration. However, if it is your preference then it can be done for […]

Last updated on March 19th, 2020 at 03:10 pm. Inheritance in Spain works very differently to how it works in many other countries. For example, even between spouses there is no automatic transfer of ownership. If one of you should die then the remaining spouse does not automatically inherit the deceased spouse’s share of the […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Of course, what you consider to be the best and the worst will depend on your own personal preferences and experiences. For example, if you have had a particularly bad experience at one airport – perhaps you lost your luggage or had something stolen – then […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. Smoking banned indoors in Spain? Never! Many people initially felt that Spain was a country that would never introduce or enforce such a ban. They were mistaken. Certainly the introduction in 2011 of a number of strict measures went relatively smoothly. Smokers have perhaps been helped […]

Last updated on September 13th, 2019 at 09:08 am. If you are anywhere near Elche in the middle of August then you cannot let the Mystery Play pass you by. There are three important dates to put in your diary. On the 13th August it’s La Nit de l’Albà when fireworks and firecrackers are let […]