Alvaro
Lawyer · Fuengirola, Spain
- 1,584 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 14+ years in practice
- Speaks: English
- Law, Jaén
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4.97(146 reviews)
Dealing with a Death Abroad in Spain
When someone dies in Spain, families face registration, funeral or repatriation and the estate. Registered English-speaking lawyers explain the usual steps in plain language.
About Dealing with a Death Abroad in Spain
Dealing with a death abroad in Spain covers what to do when a relative or friend dies in the country: the death of a relative abroad, death certificate abroad, repatriation of remains and the estate. It is meant for expats who lose a loved one in Spain and for families living elsewhere. It is a hard time, and this page explains the usual steps in plain language. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Managing the Death Abroad of a Loved one”.
The first steps
A doctor certifies the death. When the death happens at home, the police or emergency services are normally involved, and an unexpected death can bring in a judge and a forensic doctor. The death is then registered at the Registro Civil, usually with the help of the funeral director, and certificates are issued, including a multilingual version for use abroad.
Funeral, repatriation and what follows
Burial or cremation in Spain needs authorisation after registration. Repatriation of remains needs paperwork and funeral directors in both countries, and insurance may cover some costs. The consulate of the deceased's country can help to coordinate. After that come the estate and the heirs, see inheritance, and the certificates, see birth, marriage and death certificate applications. Relatives abroad can use a power of attorney to act in Spain without travelling.
Questions and answers
Who has to be informed when someone dies in Spain?
The doctor or hospital certifies the death. At home, the police or emergency services are called. The consulate of the deceased's country and the family can then be informed.
How is a death registered?
At the Registro Civil, on the basis of the medical certificate. The funeral director often handles the registration.
Can the body be taken home?
Yes, with the necessary authorisations, translated papers and funeral directors in both countries. Insurance may cover repatriation costs.
Will there be a certificate in English?
Registries can issue a multilingual international version. An official translation may still be needed for some uses.
What if the death was unexpected?
A judge and a forensic doctor may be involved, which can delay the release of the body and the registration.
22 lawyers who provide Dealing with a Death Abroad in Spain
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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José
Lawyer · Alicante City, Spain
- 786 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 22+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Alicante University
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4.99(97 reviews)
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Domingo
Lawyer · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- 372 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 19+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Salamanca
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4.94(28 reviews)
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Sabela
Lawyer · Vigo, Spain
- 250 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 17+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Santiago de Compostela
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4.96(29 reviews)
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Raffaele
Lawyer · Barcelona, Spain
- 1,553 cases handled
- 15+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish
- Spanish Law; Italian Law, Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Università degli Studi di Milano
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4.90(38 reviews)
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Inma
Lawyer · Murcia City, Spain
- 910 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law
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4.95(59 reviews)
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Inma
Lawyer · Valencia, Spain
- 716 cases handled
- 18+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, University of Valencia
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4.99(56 reviews)
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María-José
Lawyer · Murcia City, Spain
- 691 cases handled
- 22+ years in practice
- Speaks: English
- Law, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera - Campus Elche
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4.98(53 reviews)
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Oscar
Lawyer · Barcelona, Spain
- 677 cases handled
- 20+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, University of Barcelona
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4.97(57 reviews)
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Francisca
Lawyer · Gandia, Spain
- 469 cases handled
- 21+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- University of Valencia
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4.83(35 reviews)
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Federico
Lawyer · Madrid, Spain
- 440 cases handled
- 25+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German, French, Spanish
- Law, Complutense University Madrid (San Pablo)
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4.82(14 reviews)
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Angela
Lawyer · Fuengirola, Spain
- 381 cases handled
- 27+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Business and Company Administration, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE)
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5.00(30 reviews)
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Miguel
Lawyer · Oviedo, Spain
- 254 cases handled
- 26+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, University of Oviedo
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4.98(22 reviews)
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Esther
Lawyer · Maspalomas, Spain
- 229 cases handled
- 23+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, German
- Law, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
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4.99(17 reviews)
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Rafael
Lawyer · Seville, Spain
- 204 cases handled
- 31+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, University of Seville
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4.81(27 reviews)
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María
Lawyer · Estepona, Spain
- 184 cases handled
- 8+ years in practice
- Speaks: Spanish, English
- Law, University Granada
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4.60(5 reviews)
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Daniel
Lawyer · Mallorca, Spain
- 137 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: Spanish, Italian, English, Portuguese, French
- Law, UIB
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5.00(5 reviews)
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Francisco
Lawyer · Cadiz, Spain
- 136 cases handled
- Speaks: English
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4.63(5 reviews)
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Juan Ignacio
Lawyer · Vera, Spain
- 117 cases handled
- 15+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, University of Almeria
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4.93(21 reviews)
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Maria
Lawyer · Girona, Spain
- 60 cases handled
- 23+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
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4.38(8 reviews)
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Jesus
Lawyer · Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- 16 cases handled
- 3+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French
- Law Degree, University of Santiago de Compostela
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Ramon
Lawyer · Almeria, Spain
- 13+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish
- Law, Almeria University
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Dealing with a Death Abroad
22 registered lawyers provide this service in Spain. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
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