If you are living in Spain, one of the most important documents you will need is a Spanish residency permit. Applying for residency is compulsory if you intend to spend more than three months in the country and is essential for various administrative processes. For example, If you are a pensioner, you will need a […]

As a client of Ábaco Taxes you are entitled to a number of ‘extras’. We want to make sure you are getting the full benefit from them. We explain how Abaco Online and our team of tax lawyers can help you keep in touch and informed. Benefits of choosing Ábaco as your legal and tax […]

Your Spanish citizenship will allow you to remain living in Spain permanently, no more the 90-day rule, no more applications for your residency, no more renewals, no more fear of having your Spanish residency removed. And, most importantly, at the end of the process, this will be waiting for you: How to get a Spanish […]

Even the most perfect dream home in Spain will need some renovation from time to time. Whether it is anything from glazing a balcony to building a new pool, there are some legal implications that you need to be aware of. Also, if you are buying a property that has had work done on, there […]

As we all know, time goes by and circumstances change. A common question our clients ask us is about gifting a property. If you own a property in Spain, you may wish to gift your home in Spain to someone else, either as a true gift or as a way to reduce inheritance expenses. In […]

Did you know that even minor works to Spanish property need a planning permission? Many home owners in Torrevieja have found out to their cost that work they’ve had done has not been legalised. Here, we explain what might happen next. Types of planning permissions in Spain Improving their property is something that many people […]

In this article we talk about the process of voting in Spain: how the voting works, how you can register to vote, how you can vote and what happens after the voting. Spanish government The government in Spain is arranged according to four tiers: National – the elected government of the country Regional – the […]

More and more people are recognising the importance of obtaining Spanish residency if they live in Spain. But it isn’t just civil residency that is important. There’s fiscal residency too. In this article we explain what civil and fiscal residency are and how you can obtain them. Spanish residency: civil vs fiscal When people talk […]

We might talk about legal advisers and executives, solicitors, barristers and lawyers. But there’s one professional in Spain who is even more difficult to pin down – the Spanish ‘gestor’. What is a gestor? Many people who find themselves living in or visiting Spain frequently, have had some contact with the multi-talented ‘gestor’. It might […]

At different times of our lives we need different facilities. The swimming pool and villa in a rural location can be perfect for a growing family but less attractive as you become older. There are times when we all need to take stock of our family or holiday home and perhaps make a move to […]

Many people who are emigrating to Spain wonder, which comes first, the padrón or the empadronamiento? For those who aren’t familiar with these terms, the padrón is the town hall’s register of those living in the area. Essentially, the local government uses the register to keep a headcount of how many people are resident, and […]

Not all countries have a notary to verify documents as they do in Spain. Here the Spanish notary is a very much respected individual whose office carries a clearly recognised ‘Notary’ sign and who trains for several additional years to qualify for the title. Most people associate the notary with Spanish power of attorney but […]

Spanish bureaucracy can be complex and unfortunately, you can’t apply for an NIE number online. However, with a helping hand, applying for an NIE is simple.  If you are moving to Spain or have any economic, professional or family connection with the nation, you will need to apply for a Número de Identidad de Extranjero, […]

Moving to another country is a big decision. Perhaps you know someone who has taken the leap or you’ve been on holiday somewhere and fallen in love with the people and its culture. Whatever your motivation or inspiration, it’s important not to jump too quickly. Your move will have implications not just for you but […]

If you want to relocate to Spain permanently, it’s important that you understand how to get Spanish residency.  After all, if you’re going to invest in property, it’s essential that your affairs are in order. For instance, if you live in Spain for 183 days a year, then you’re classed as a resident. Many expat […]

Did you know that all changes made to your home, however small, need approval from the town hall in Spain? If you go ahead without the proper permission you may have to go through a process of having it legalised. Alternatively, you might even have to restore it to its original state if legalisation’s not […]

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 […]

The role of the notary in Spain can be a little confusing to people who are not familiar with the system here. We’d like to introduce you to Doña Tatiana Martín Ruiz, the notary that many Ábaco clients have already had the pleasure of meeting. If you have bought a property in Spain then you […]

Perhaps you’ve got your eye on a bargain, or it’s just time to make some changes to your house in Spain. It’s a good time to refurbish property, just make sure that the Town Hall know what you’re doing too. Jessica Martínez, from our Legal Department, tells us there is no doubt that you can […]

Did you know that even minor home improvements and refurbishments need planning permission in Spain? The town hall must give a licence for work to go ahead or you risk a hefty financial penalty. In this article we explain about building licences and what you can do if they’re missing. You need permission whether it’s […]

Unfortunately there are less-than-scrupulous builders who will claim they have obtained a building permit on your behalf, when, in fact, they have not. Having the correct building licences is, ultimately, your responsibility. In this article we explain how to make sure your reformed or extended property is legal.

If you are convinced that Spain is your home and you want to take the next step in showing you belong here, you might want to consider becoming a Spanish national. In this article María Wiedemann tells us what it entails. Most people who come to live in Spain are quite happy to retain their […]

Like many words, ‘embargoes’ has different connotations in Spain to what it does in the UK. For most British people when you talk about embargoes you picture a prohibition from one country on another. So what does embargo mean? It comes as something of a shock to some people with Spanish bank accounts to discover […]

The EU Court of Justice has ruled that banks in Spain must return all the interest on mortgages that they have over-charged prior to 2013 as well as after. During the property boom, many Spanish banks got their customers to sign mortgage agreements that included a floor clause. This floor clause meant that the amount […]

Post Panama, more people are probably aware of the issues around money laundering. In Spain, long gone are the days when few questions were asked about the source of your finance. We explain. If you buy a property now in Spain you will be asked to disclose the source of your money. This isn’t because […]