Key Takeaways
- Making a Spanish will requires a notary appointment. Bring your NIE, passport, and details of all Spanish assets. The appointment itself takes about 30 minutes.
- Cost: €50–€150 depending on complexity. Simple wills (single property) are at the lower end; multiple properties or complex family situations cost more.
- Include a professio juris clause. Under EU Regulation 650/2012, this lets you choose your nationality’s law instead of Spanish forced heirship rules.
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Key Takeaways
- The appointment takes 30–60 minutes; the notary transmits the signed will to the Madrid registry the same day via the national network
- Your heirs locate the will using the Certificado de Ultimas Voluntades (EUR 3.70) — it confirms which notary holds the registered original
- After signing, notify your UK solicitor so they can verify the UK will’s revocation clause does not accidentally cover your Spanish will
- Spain does not permit joint wills — spouses can schedule back-to-back appointments at the same notary on the same day
- There is no ‘amendment’ option; every change requires a completely new testamento abierto at the same cost (EUR 300–600 notary fees)
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Step 5: Registration
On the same day as the appointment, the notary transmits the will to the Registro General de Actos de Ultima Voluntad — General Registry of Last Wills — in Madrid. Registration is automatic and included in the notary fee.
You receive written confirmation of the registration, including the protocol number, within a few days to a week. Keep this confirmation with your papers.
Your heirs use this registry to locate the will after your death. The process: they request a Certificado de Ultimas Voluntades — Certificate of Last Wills — which costs EUR 3.70 and confirms which notary holds the registered will. The notary then provides a copy to the heirs upon presentation of the death certificate.
Step 6: Coordinate With Your UK Will
After making your Spanish will, notify your UK solicitor. The coordination task:
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Confirm that your UK will does not contain a blanket revocation clause covering all wills (see below for why this matters).
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If it does, ask your UK solicitor to limit the revocation clause to UK-situated assets: “I revoke all former wills and testamentary dispositions made in the United Kingdom relating to assets situated in the United Kingdom.”
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Your Spanish will should state it covers only Spanish assets and does not revoke any will in another jurisdiction.
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Make a note in your personal file of both wills’ locations: notary name and protocol number for the Spanish will; solicitor name and file reference for the UK will.
Why this matters: Standard UK will language — “I hereby revoke all former wills” — legally destroys a registered Spanish will. This happens when couples update their UK wills years after making Spanish ones, often without anyone realizing the problem. Your heirs discover it when the Spanish notary checks the registry and finds no valid will.
Timeline Summary
| Stage | Time Required |
|---|---|
| Find a notary and book appointment | 1-4 weeks (depends on availability) |
| Gather documents | 1-3 days |
| Notary appointment | 30-60 minutes |
| Registration confirmation | Same day (Madrid registry transmittal) |
| Written confirmation received | 3-7 days |
| Total end-to-end | 1-4 weeks |
For urgent situations — a health event, upcoming travel — some notaries can accommodate same-week appointments. Going direct without a lawyer reduces lead time. Calling ahead to explain urgency can help.
Cost Summary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Notary fee (testamento abierto, simple) | EUR 300-400 |
| Notary fee (multiple beneficiaries, specific allocations) | EUR 400-600 |
| Lawyer drafting fee (optional) | EUR 200-500 |
| Sworn translator at appointment (if required) | EUR 100-200 |
| Total (direct, no lawyer) | EUR 300-600 |
| Total (with lawyer and translator) | EUR 600-1,300 |
(Confirmed February 2026. Notary fees follow a national regulated scale. Lawyer fees vary by firm.)
Common Questions
Do I need to speak Spanish?
No. You must have a sworn translator present at the signing if you don’t speak Spanish. The notary reads the will aloud in Spanish; the translator interprets. You then confirm understanding before signing. Arrange the translator in advance — don’t assume the notary will provide one.
Can my spouse and I make wills in the same appointment?
Spain does not allow joint wills. Each person must make a separate testamento abierto. However, two appointments can be scheduled back-to-back on the same day at the same notary, which most couples find practical.
What if I want to change my will later?
Make a new testamento abierto. The new will automatically revokes your previous Spanish will (only). The cost is the same as the original. There is no “amendment” option — you replace the will each time.
Does the notary need to know about all my assets?
You provide details of your Spanish property and any specific Spanish assets you want to mention. You don’t need to disclose the full value of your estate. Most wills use broad language covering “all assets situated in Spain at the time of my death” rather than listing individual items, which avoids the need for updates every time your asset composition changes.
Notary fees confirmed February 2026. Sworn translator fees confirmed February 2026. Appointment availability varies by location and time of year.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find more guides on this topic?
See our Complete Spanish Wills Guide for the full picture, or browse all guides at guides.waypointsur.com.
