If you own property in Chaparral, Torrevieja, a Spanish will is the single most important legal document you can have. It costs approximately €50-80 to make at a notary and can save your heirs months of delays and thousands of euros in unnecessary legal costs. Bufete Padilla has been drafting Spanish wills for expatriates since 1976, ensuring your assets pass to your chosen beneficiaries with minimum tax and maximum efficiency.
Local insight: Chaparral
Local property market: El Chaparral, just south of Torrevieja, is a compact urbanisation of 1990s bungalows and small detached homes (€110,000–€200,000) close to Lago Jardín II and the saltworks. Stock is limited and turnover slow.
Urban-planning notes: Several Chaparral streets fall inside the protected zone of the Salinas de Torrevieja. Any extension or pool installation requires Conselleria de Medio Ambiente clearance before the municipal licence.
Recent case in the zone: In 2025 we obtained the regularisation of a swimming pool installed without licence for a French owner, paying a reduced sanction after voluntary disclosure to the town hall.
Distance to our office: El Chaparral is 10 minutes from our Torrevieja office.
Why You Need a Spanish Will for Your Chaparral Property
A Spanish will is essential because:
Speed: With a Spanish will, inheritance typically takes 3-6 months. Without one, 12-18 months.
Cost: Intestate proceedings require a notarial declaration of heirs (€300-500 extra) plus apostilled foreign documents
Control: You can specify exactly who inherits what, within the limits of Spanish forced heirship
Tax efficiency: A well-drafted will can incorporate tax planning strategies that save your heirs thousands
Simplicity: A Spanish will covering only your Spanish assets doesn't replace your UK/home country will — both coexist
Important: A Spanish will should be coordinated with your existing will in your home country to avoid conflicts. Our team reviews both documents to ensure consistency.
Types of Wills for Chaparral Property Owners
We draft several types of wills depending on your circumstances:
Simple Spanish will (testamento abierto): The most common. Signed before a notary in Chaparral or nearby. Covers all your Spanish assets. From €50-80.
Mirror wills for couples: Both partners make matching wills, typically leaving everything to the surviving spouse with children as secondary beneficiaries. Coordinated with UK/home country mirror wills.
Wills with usufruct: The surviving spouse receives lifetime use of the property while ownership passes to children. Common for tax optimisation.
Wills choosing applicable law (professio iuris): Under EU Regulation 650/2012, EU nationals can choose their national law. We advise whether this is beneficial for your situation.
All wills are registered with the Spanish Central Registry of Last Wills (Registro General de Actos de Última Voluntad), ensuring they can be located when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to make a Spanish will in Chaparral?
The notary fee for a simple Spanish will is approximately €50-80. Our legal fees for drafting and advising on the will content are separate and depend on complexity — from straightforward single-asset wills to complex multi-country estate plans. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Does a Spanish will replace my UK will?
No. A Spanish will should cover only your Spanish assets. Your UK will covers your UK assets. We carefully draft the Spanish will to ensure it doesn't accidentally revoke your UK will — a common mistake that can cause serious problems.
Can I make a Spanish will remotely without visiting Chaparral?
A Spanish will must be signed in person before a notary. However, we can prepare everything in advance so that when you visit, the notary appointment takes just 15-20 minutes. We also have offices in Torrevieja and Moraira for your convenience.