Aceptación de Herencia (Acceptance of Inheritance)

Unlike in England or the US, where estate administration is handled by an executor or personal representative, Spain requires each individual heir to participate in the acceptance process. All heirs typically sign a single escritura de aceptación y adjudicación de herencia (deed of acceptance and distribution) before a notary. This deed divides the estate according to the will (or intestacy rules if there is no will) and assigns specific assets to specific heirs. Only after this deed is signed, and inheritance tax is paid, can the assets be registered in the heirs’ names.

Steps in the Process

1. Obtain the death certificate (certificado de defunción)
2. Request the Certificate of Last Wills (Certificado de Últimas Voluntades) — 15 days after death
3. Obtain a copy of the will from the notary
4. Gather documentation: property deeds, bank certificates, valuations
5. All heirs sign the acceptance deed before a notary
6. Pay inheritance tax (Impuesto de Sucesiones) and plusvalía municipal
7. Register the inherited assets in the new owners’ names

Key Facts About Acceptance of Inheritance

• Heirs can accept unconditionally, accept with benefit of inventory (limiting liability to the estate value), or renounce entirely
• Renunciation is irrevocable and must be done before a notary
• If an heir lives abroad, they can grant a power of attorney to a lawyer in Spain to sign on their behalf
• All heirs must participate — a single absent or non-cooperating heir can block the entire process
• Foreign documents (death certificates, wills, grants of probate) must be apostilled and often translated by a sworn translator
• The process can take 3 to 12 months depending on complexity and the number of heirs
• It is possible to accept an inheritance and immediately sell the inherited property in a single notarial act

Related Legal Terms

• Impuesto de Sucesiones (Inheritance Tax)
• Testamento Abierto (Open Will)
• Legítima (Forced Heirship Portion)
• Escritura Pública (Public Deed)
• Back to Legal Encyclopedia — A-Z Guide

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This entry is part of our Legal Encyclopedia for Expats in Spain. Browse the full A-Z guide for more terms.

For a complete overview of wills and inheritance in Spain, see our Spanish Wills & Testament Guide 2026.