Official legal bodies & offices in Spain

Some of the common legal bodies you may encounter or require assistance from in Spain.

Gestoria

A Gestor, who works for a Gestoria, is a Spanish institution licensed by the government literally to deal with red tape. The gestor is a middleman between you and the bureaucracy. They do not have any official powers but do need to pass an exam. They are licensed by the authorities as a professional. Gestors are usually first in line when it comes to being helped at the tax office or other official office, because they save the clerks a lot of time.

Asesor Fiscal (Fiscal adviser or chartered accountant)

If you have made any investments in Spain, need to pay Spanish income tax, or you are starting a business, you should consult an asesor fiscal. He can save you money and keep you on the right side of the ever-changing tax laws. You can also use him as your fiscal representative, if you are a non-resident property owner. It is no longer obligatory to name a representative, when you have one property, but if you have more than one, you must name a legal representative.

Notario

(Notary or public official): Their mission is to make sure that certain matters are officially noted and registered, such as wills, purchase agreements and various other sorts of contracts. The notario receives fees for these services, but you cannot instruct him/her to act for you in the same manner as your lawyer or accountant. These fees are fixed by law, ranging from say € 60 for a will to € 300 for a property sales contract under € 60.250.

Administrador de Fincas (Property administrator)

This is a licensed professional who will do the administration of your property, such as seeing that the taxes are paid, managing rentals and presenting you at owners meetings.

Local authorities - Ayuntamiento / Adjuntamiento

In your home country you are probably at ease with the various local authorities, such as the town hall, the police, the courts, the social security system, etc. Spain is organized in very much the same way, all you really need to know, is where to go to.

The 'Ayuntamiento / Adjuntamiento' (town hall) is very important, as this is where you will pay the circulation tax (permiso de circulacion) for your car and where you have to apply for your building license if you want to build a house, register as an inhabitant of the town, pay your taxes for your property and many other important things.

When you are registered as an inhabitant of the town you will be able to exercise your right to vote and you can even be elected yourself. The people working in the town hall are generally very friendly and helpful and will assist you with any problems you might have.