Wills in Spain: Types, Forced Heirship (Legítima), Notary Costs & Regional Variations

Making a will (testamento) in Spain is simpler and cheaper than most people think. However, the rules around forced heirship (legítima), will types, and variations between autonomous communities can be confusing.

Types of Wills in Spain

The open notarial will is by far the most commonly used in Spain due to its legal certainty.

Forced Heirship (Legítima): What You Can't Avoid

Under common civil law (applicable in most of Spain), the estate is divided into three thirds:

If there are no descendants, ascendants are entitled to 1/2 of the estate as legítima.

Notary Will Cost

An open notarial will costs between EUR 40 and 80 depending on complexity — one of the cheapest notarial procedures.

Autonomous Community Variations

Some autonomous communities have their own civil law (derechos forales) that modifies legítima rules:

Sharing Will Documents Securely

A will contains extremely sensitive information: estate dispositions, heirs' personal data, special conditions. Sharing these through unprotected iMessage or email can create family conflicts and legal issues.

With LOCK.PUB, you can share will copies or succession documents through password-protected links with expiration dates. Only authorized people can access the content.

Practical Tips

1. Make a will early: you don't need to be elderly or ill
2. Review it periodically: family changes (divorces, births) can make it outdated
3. Consult an inheritance lawyer: especially if you have assets in multiple autonomous communities
4. Register the will: the notary registers it with the General Registry of Last Wills
5. Inform your heirs: not about the content, but about the will's existence

A well-drafted will prevents conflicts and protects your loved ones. Tools like LOCK.PUB help you share succession documents without compromising confidentiality.