Home / Practice areas / International Law

Practice area

International
Private Law.

When your life or your business crosses borders, Spanish law does not stand alone. Someone who understands how the pieces fit together, in plain English.

What we handle

Where Spanish law meets
the rest of the world.

Whether you are moving between countries, running a business across borders, or need a foreign decision recognised in Spain.

Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Spain (exequatur)
Recognition of foreign divorces and custody decisions under EU regulations
Drafting and reviewing international contracts with a choice-of-law clause
Determining which country's law applies to a cross-border dispute
Cross-border inheritance and succession under the EU Succession Regulation
International debt recovery and enforcement of foreign arbitration awards
Coordination with lawyers in other jurisdictions on a single cross-border matter
Advice on the legal status and rights of foreign nationals in Spain
Common questions
Is my foreign divorce automatically valid in Spain? +

If the divorce came from another EU country, it is generally recognised automatically under EU regulations, though you may still need to register it in Spain for practical purposes. A divorce from outside the EU usually needs a separate recognition process (exequatur) before Spanish authorities will treat it as final.

Can I enforce a foreign court judgment against someone in Spain? +

Yes, but it usually needs to go through a recognition process first, called exequatur, unless an EU regulation or bilateral treaty already covers it. Once recognised, the judgment can be enforced in Spain in the same way as a Spanish one.

Which country's law applies to my contract? +

If your contract has a choice-of-law clause, that generally governs, subject to certain mandatory rules. Without one, EU regulations set default rules based on factors like where the contract was performed or where the parties are based. We work out which law applies before advising on your position.

I live in Spain but have assets in another country. Which succession law applies? +

Under the EU Succession Regulation, the law of your habitual residence normally applies to your whole estate, wherever the assets are, unless you have chosen the law of your nationality in a will. This is worth getting right in advance, since it affects who inherits and how much tax is due.

Do I need a lawyer in Spain and one in my home country? +

Often yes, for matters that touch two legal systems. We regularly coordinate directly with lawyers abroad so you deal with one point of contact on the Spanish side while both sides of the matter move together.

From the blog

More on International.

Attestation/Legalization Process and Countries that are Not Members of the Apostille Convention
International

Attestation/Legalization Process and Countries that are Not Members of the Apostille Convention

1 min read
What does the Apostille prove or certify?
International

What does the Apostille prove or certify?

1 min read
What is the Hague Apostille?
International

What is the Hague Apostille?

1 min read