Spanish Will

[whispa]

As long as it is with Notary it shouldn't be a problem, fingers crossed

[lionfish]

Yes, our Spanish wills were signed at Notary and now stored in Madrid.

[Windermeregolfer]

A very interesting thread and I would like to make another contribution.

Putting aside the issue of the costs charged by the legal beagles!!!!!! I have in the last couple of years had to deal with an estate of a relative who lived in Durban SA.  From the out set I was informed that the equivalent of Probate would take up to 24 months, so 12 months in Spain as mentioned earlier in the tread is not bad, and don't forget I am told that SA law is based on UK law.

One of the options we had was to use a UK Law Firm that had a SA branch, which we did.

So my point is why not use a UK firm of lawyers who have a Spanish Branch and can deal with all the paper work of UK and Spanish wills in one go?

[beachlife]

I have done probate for 3 different wills in the UK the shortest took me 6 weeks and the longest 3 months. The longest took me as I had problems with Santander, their probate department is terrible.

The reason it can take longer is that solicitors ( usually legal secretaries who do the work) in my experience do not chase up the banks/building societies. If you do the work yourself it can be done very quickly as you can chase up banks and building societies probate departments by getting on the phone and they in my experience expedite your probate process. The probate departments of most of the banks are first class and very helpful.

There is no excuse for probate to take 12 months unless its an extremely complicated estate. There is also no reason why the process should cost so much, doing it myself cost me no more than £200 for each application for probate.

[Spike On Q]

But lets say that 600.00 Euros is about the right price for a couple  - that then represents the amount of work required to establish a valid and legal will within this jurisdiction. I know Napoleon, he has been my lawyer for years and has never come close to ripping me off - so the cost represents the complexity of the process and the amount of work he has to do

Why would an English will be valid here in Fuerteventura - is a Spanish will valid in England I ask, doubt it? If it is, problem solved - have just one will, written and legalised in Spain to cover your UK assets [OH MY! leave it in the hands of Johnie Foreigner - I don't think so]

QED

[Ivemovedon]

I shall make a point of shopping around for the cheapest will writer i can find when next over. And although the cheapest can sometimes turn out to be a false economy theres no saying the dearest is going to be any better. Will also explore windermeregolfers option and see if its more cost effective to blow out 'johnnie foreigner' completely.

[Spike On Q]

Of course the final option is to have NO connection with any of these foreign types. Stay in good old Blighty, pull up the drawbridge, vote UKIP and get a caravan in Ingoldmills,  problem solved -- and you can partake in Mablethorpe-forum.com

[Ivemovedon]

Quite happy to deal with foreign types but i've learnt  to avoid the many predatory sharks that seem to circle the island looking for the unwary,... so a bit cautious.

Mind you the old colonial days were best. Rape and pillage and whats left ship back to the UK. Oh the nostalgia of it all.

[lionfish]

Just as an extra comment:- I was under the impression that our U.K. wills were set up to deal with our worldwide assets and all that was needed was a simple Spanish will, duly notarised and stored in Madrid which pointed to the existence of our U.K. worldwide will.

[Ivemovedon]

We also were told our English will covers any assets overseas. My point is if needed a simple back up Spanish will should not cost so much.  Not sure what this  'johnny foreigner' thing is all about apart from trying to stir the water but if it makes someone happy lets go with the flow..

[nacnud]

Sometimes threads have a life of their own, I believe ( my opinion only ) that Wills are just a way of making life as simple for those you leave, A bit like life Insurence the person who pays its doesnt get a the benefit but those you love.
Not arguing for or against making a Spanish will but it will make life easy for those you leave behind, Spain being a Sovereign Country has its own ways of doing things, and dont we all know it. But, this doesnt mean its right or wrong, it their way.
So if it makes it easier, and it does then make one.
Not about how much or whos getting my money for doing it or where they are from, just a piece of mind for the time for me when  I have shuffled off this mortal coil.
On a final point I always loved the quote from Anthony Scott, in his last will and testament wrote: 'To my first wife Sue, whom I always promised to mention in my will. Hello Sue!'

[Ivemovedon]

I think its mostly agreed a spanish back up will is needed. we are now just haggling over the price.

[TheCooler]

I think its mostly agreed a spanish back up will is needed. we are now just haggling over the price.

Beatriz in Rosario has quoted €200 a will. I used Beatriz for my conveyancing and she is very good.

[whispa]

I completely agree, Beatriz is the best, I just wish I had been with her from the start of proceedings, I was badly let down by two other solicitors and wasted nearly two years trying to get things moving, one had left the island without notifying me, I won't mention names here as I know people still use them!!!

The will comes in Spanish on one side and English on the other, so no mistaking what is said.

As nacnud says it makes it easier for the ones you leave behind to cope with, it's bad enough losing a loved one, without extra stress with paperwork, I should know, total nightmare!!1

[Spike On Q]

Nicely put nacnud - will you be my PR agent