Last updated on October 14th, 2019 at 11:24 am.
Nowadays it is very common for couples to live together without getting married. However, this can have legal and tax disadvantages. If you don’t want to marry but do want to keep your costs down then there is an alternative in Spain. This option rests somewhere between being married and simply living together.
If you register as a de facto couple you can share some of the benefits of being married without having to tie the knot. It’s a process which couples that have lived in Spain for more than 10 years are eligible for. If you do register, it can lead to a number of benefits in relation to tax, accessibility to pensions and rights of representation.
In particular, there are advantages when it comes to inheritance. This is because the de facto couple will be recognised as family members. This can mean that your partner pays less inheritance tax when the time comes.
So, what does becoming a de facto couple involve? You must be included in the register of civil partners in order to benefit from the legal and fiscal advantages. Being registered as members of a de facto union is not a complicated process. However, having a specialised lawyer to assist you will speed it up.
Our legal department are experts in this field and will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the process – what it entails and what the implications and benefits are.
As St. Valentine’s day approaches, a proposal might not be on the cards but formalising your relationship legally could be a very good way of celebrating.
2 comments
7 October, 2019 9:44 am
Are Civil Partnerships Certificate recognised as Legal in Spain?
My partner and I want any house we buy in Spain to be in joint names and documented as Spouses so one can inherit without financial problems should one survive the other .
7 October, 2019 11:18 am
Hello James,
Unfortunately, Civil Partnerships must be registered in Spain to be have legal consequences. Otherwise, only spouses (married) can benefit from inheritance tax allowances.
With kind regards,
Ábaco Advisers
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