What Is Civil Law in Spain?
Spain follows a civil law system based on codified statutes, primarily the Código Civil. It governs private legal relationships between individuals and legal entities, including contracts, property, obligations, liability, and family matters.
At Borderless Lawyers, we provide expert guidance in all areas of Spanish civil law—particularly for expats, international clients, and foreign investors dealing with local legal issues.
📄 Key Areas of Civil Law
📃 Contracts and Obligations
- Drafting, reviewing, and enforcing contracts (sales, services, leases)
- Breach of contract claims and remedies
- International contract disputes
🛡️ We protect your interests with enforceable, bilingual agreements
🏠 Property and Real Estate Law
- Ownership rights and transfers
- Disputes over boundaries, co-ownership, or landlord-tenant issues
- Property liens and easements
📌 Foreign buyers often face challenges registering deeds—legal help is key
🧬 Family and Inheritance Law
- Wills, succession planning, and cross-border probate
- Inheritance tax advice
- Spousal and parental rights
✅ Dual legal systems (civil code + autonomous region rules) may apply
⚠️ Civil Liability and Torts
- Compensation for damages (negligence, accidents, product liability)
- Defamation and personal injury claims
- Professional malpractice lawsuits
💶 We help quantify and recover damages under Spanish standards
🧭 Legal Process in Civil Courts
🏛️ Civil Proceedings Overview:
- Filing a claim (demanda) before a civil court
- Pre-trial hearings and mediation (often required)
- Main trial with evidence, witnesses, and expert reports
- Judgment and appeal process
📑 All foreign documents must be officially translated and legalized
🌍 How We Help Expats & Foreign Clients
At Borderless Lawyers, we specialize in:
- Cross-border legal disputes
- Jurisdiction and applicable law analysis
- Representing clients in court and out-of-court settlements
- Translating legal concepts and procedures clearly
🌐 Bilingual service | 🔒 Confidential advice | ✅ Spanish & EU law compliance
🧠 Did You Know?
- Spanish civil law gives great weight to written contracts—oral agreements are hard to enforce.
- You can draft a Spanish will that respects both local and your home country’s laws.
- Autonomous communities like Catalonia and Navarre may apply different inheritance and family law rules.
💼 Real Case Example
Situation: A British investor sued a local developer over a failed property deal in Alicante. We successfully defended the investor’s contract rights, recovered compensation, and enforced the judgment in Spain.
🚀 Need Help With Civil Law in Spain?
Whether you’re dealing with a contract dispute, property problem, or liability claim, Borderless Lawyers offers reliable, English-speaking legal representation across Spain.