If you're inheriting as a sole heir in Spain and need to register the inheritance, it helps to know exactly what paperwork the registry will ask for before you go.
The three core documents
To register any kind of inheritance, you will need, among other things:
- The death certificate, proving the death of the person you're inheriting from. You normally get this from the Civil Registry.
- The Certificate of the Registry of Acts of Last Will, which confirms the most recent valid will, or confirms that no will exists if that's the case.
- Proof of payment (or postponement) of inheritance tax, following the rules of the relevant Autonomous Community, and where applicable, proof of payment of the municipal capital gains tax, for example if a property is involved.
What else you'll need
Alongside these, and depending on whether the deceased left a will, you'll typically need to submit a formal statement, signed and legitimised before a notary or the registrar, setting out the circumstances of the death, listing the assets that make up the estate, and confirming acceptance of the inheritance. For a sole heir inheriting under a will, this is usually the key extra document to prepare.
