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 […]

Last updated on February 29th, 2020 at 06:06 pm. 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 […]

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 […]

Last updated on September 25th, 2019 at 06:23 pm. 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 […]

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 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:52 pm. 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 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 03:53 pm. 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, […]

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 05:09 pm. 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 […]

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.

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:56 pm. 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 […]

Last updated on June 5th, 2020 at 06:16 pm. 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 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. 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 […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 04:57 pm. 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 […]

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 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 04:58 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 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 05:00 pm. Some people like to buy their property brand new and ready to move into. Others prefer to buy a resale property in Spain and customise it to exactly how they want. There are advantages in both approaches. However, at some point, even if you buy a […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:00 pm. A new law in 2013 established the requirement for an Energy Efficiency Certificate (EEC) or Certificado de Eficiencia Energética (CEE) to be made available to purchasers of Spanish property. The idea is that making this information more accessible will encourage home owners to make their property […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. What are the renting laws in the Valencian region? Must you or must you not register your property for letting purposes here? It would seem to be a straight forward question but a straightforward answer could quite easily evade you. The original rental law was the […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. How far should we go when it comes to keeping the peace? There is a fine line between freedom of speech and racism, between the right to protest and lawlessness. At what point does a peaceful demonstration become insupportable? Spain’s new Public Security Law or Citizen’s […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:01 pm. You’ve probably heard of ‘money laundering’ but not thought you would personally be affected. However, concerns about money laundering activity in Spain means that people are suddenly finding it cropping up in quite ordinary circumstances. A number of non-residents and residents have recently been asked for […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:02 pm. The word ‘google’ is part of our day-to-day vocabulary. In the Oxford dictionary paperback version it is defined as ‘search for information about someone or something on the Internet, especially with the Google search engine.’ The last part of that definition is perhaps particularly interesting. There […]

Last updated on February 25th, 2020 at 03:18 pm. Making a denuncia is an important part of the law and order system in Spain. In this article, David Ruiz tells us more about them. Having to report an event (or someone) to the police is something that nearly all of us have to do at […]

Last updated on October 28th, 2019 at 05:03 pm. Whether new traffic laws in Spain are designed to make the roads safer or increase revenue for the traffic department, will always be debated. Whatever your conclusion the new raft of legislation aimed at road users is going to keep trafico busy for the foreseeable future. […]