Our lawyers who specialize in inheritances in Barcelona and Sant Cugat del Vallès know legal ways to limit liability in case of debts and can also make a preliminary study of the financial situation of the deceased if the client requests it.

Documentation for Inheritance

The documents vary and are different depending on the assets of the deceased. The most common documents are:

1.-Death certificate.

2.-Certificate of last will act and certificate of death coverage insurance contracts.

3.- Bills for burial, funeral, cremation expenses …

Will (if it exists)

4.- Documentation of the properties: Deeds of sale, IBI receipts, mortgage deeds …

5.- Certificates of bank balances on the date of death.

6.- Etc.

The best way to know what documents are needed is to go to our lawyers in Barcelona and Sant Cugat del Vallès and they can, after an interview, determine what documents you need.

What happens if I don’t have any documents?

The good news is that all documents can be obtained by our attorneys, regardless of where they are in Spain. Our attorneys can obtain the documents without you having to make any effort to try to retrieve them.

Renounce the inheritance

Sometimes a client wants to renounce the inheritance. It is usually a simple document before a notary, but it is important to do it well since an incorrect formula in the resignation could lead to double taxation. You must also understand the economic repercussions so it is not advisable to resign “hot” but it is convenient to think about it for a few days and once it is clear that you want to make this decision, proceed to resign. Before resigning, our firm recommends that you consult with an attorney, as, although it may seem implausible, we have encountered many clients who were unaware of the consequences that the resignation could have.

It is advisable to hire an attorney

It will depend on the case. It is generally recommended when there are assets (real estate, participations or shares in companies, vehicles …) in order to ensure their correct valuation and taxation. Lawyers can also give you instructions on property maintenance to avoid paying more taxes than necessary. A tax mistake involves not only paying more taxes than necessary, but also paying interest and penalties.

It may also be recommended if you are unable to obtain a document or do not have time, or do not know the exact assets of the deceased and need help searching for and determining the assets of the deceased.

I am a child and I have been disinherited- can I do something?

This depends on the specific case. In the Catalan Civil Code it is easier to disinherit than in the common Civil Code, but even so, many disinheritances are invalid and we can challenge them. We have recently had a case of disinheritance, and we have managed to annul the clause due to formal errors.

Another reason many clients usually turn to an attorney is because some heir does not want to accept the inheritance or because they do not know all the heirs.

The good news is that we have a solution for any problem that may happen:

1.- We can find unknown heirs.

2.- We can get all the necessary documents even if you don’t have any.

3.- We can find your family member’s assets.

4.- We can unlock the inheritance when an heir does not want to accept.

5.- We can plan your taxes to suit your needs, obtaining the best taxation and avoiding unpleasant surprises.