🌍 Can’t Travel to Spain to Inherit Property or Assets?
If you’re a non-resident heir or expat living abroad, you don’t need to be physically present in Spain to manage an inheritance. You can appoint a Power of Attorney (Poder Notarial) to:
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Accept the inheritance
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Pay taxes
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Sign notarial deeds
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Register property ownership
This allows a lawyer or representative to handle the process on your behalf — legally and efficiently.
⚖️ What Is a Power of Attorney (POA) for Inheritance?
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows someone you trust (usually a lawyer) to act on your behalf in specific matters — like accepting an inheritance or selling property.
In the context of inheritance, it’s typically used to:
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Collect inheritance documents
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Appear before a Spanish notary
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File and pay Modelo 650 (inheritance tax)
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Sign the deed of acceptance (escritura de aceptación)
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Pay Plusvalía Municipal
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Register the property in your name
🧾 What Can Be Included in a Spanish Inheritance POA?
| Authority Granted | Included in POA? |
|---|---|
| Accepting or renouncing inheritance | ✅ Yes |
| Filing inheritance and local taxes | ✅ Yes |
| Representing before notaries | ✅ Yes |
| Signing the escritura (acceptance deed) | ✅ Yes |
| Registering property with Land Registry | ✅ Yes |
| Selling inherited property | ⚠️ Optional — must be specified |
✍️ How to Grant a Valid POA for Use in Spain
Option 1: Sign in Spain (easiest)
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Visit a Spanish notary
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Sign the POA in-person with ID and NIE
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Quick registration — valid immediately
Option 2: Sign Abroad
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Draft POA with help of a Spanish lawyer
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Sign before a notary in your country
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Get the document apostilled (for Hague Convention countries)
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Send to Spain with sworn Spanish translation
💡 This process is common for UK, US, Canadian, and EU citizens inheriting property in Spain.
🛑 Risks of Not Using POA When Abroad
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Heirs must travel to Spain to sign everything
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Missed tax deadlines = fines or penalties
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Legal delays and added notary costs
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Co-heirs may be blocked from completing their own inheritance
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Property cannot be registered or sold
🧠 Who Should You Appoint?
Most foreign heirs appoint a Spanish inheritance lawyer to:
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Coordinate all documents
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File tax declarations
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Communicate with notaries and registrars
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Act as their legal representative in Spain
This is especially important if there are:
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Multiple heirs
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Complex estate structures
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Real estate or business assets
✅ Benefits of Using POA in Spanish Inheritance
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| No need to travel to Spain | Saves time, travel, and cost |
| Legal and tax deadlines are met | Avoids fines and legal risk |
| Centralized coordination | Lawyer handles everything for you |
| Faster property transfer | Easier to register inherited property |
| Allows future sale of inherited assets | POA can include selling authority |
📦 Documents Usually Required to Issue POA
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Your valid passport
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Your NIE (if already assigned)
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The POA document (drafted by lawyer)
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Notary signature (abroad or in Spain)
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Apostille + sworn Spanish translation (if signed abroad)
⚖️ Let Us Represent You Legally in Spain
Our team:
✅ Drafts your POA in English & Spanish
✅ Coordinates with notaries in your country
✅ Files taxes and registers the inheritance
✅ Acts with full transparency and legal compliance
✅ Handles the full inheritance process remotely
📞 Need Help Inheriting Property in Spain from Abroad?
We make Spanish inheritance simple, secure, and remote. Appoint us with Power of Attorney and we’ll handle the entire process for you — from taxes to title transfer.
👉 Book a consultation now to issue your Power of Attorney for inheritance in Spain.