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Property lawyer Alex Radford shares expert advice on how to choose the right legal support when buying a home in Spain.
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How to find a good property lawyer in Spain
In this article:
- 1. Start with local expertise
- 2. Must be a qualified lawyer, not an agent or accountant
- 3. Initial consultation: ask questions
- 4. Assess their online presence
- 5. Choose a property specialist, not a litigator
- 6. Language matters
- 7. Broad Spanish coverage with local access
- 8. What their services should cover
- 9. Ask for a letter of instruction
- 10. Understand fees and transfer taxes
Buying property in Spain is an exciting step—but it can also be legally complex, especially if you're unfamiliar with the process. One of the most important ways to protect yourself is by choosing an experienced, independent property lawyer who understands both local law and international buyers’ needs.
We interviewed Spanish-based lawyer Alex Radford on video to get his expert advice on exactly what to look for. In this guide, he explains how to find the right legal support, what services a good lawyer should offer, and how to avoid common pitfalls when buying property in Spain.
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1. Start with local expertise
“If you're buying in a specific area, look to see if there is a lawyer in that area that covers property purchase.”
Alex stresses that choosing a lawyer familiar with local laws—whether on the Costa del Sol, Balearics, or inland—is a strong foundation.
2. Must be a qualified lawyer, not an agent or accountant
“I would certainly recommend that you instruct a lawyer and not an accountant or the estate agent’s friend.”
“It has to be a lawyer who is registered with the College of Lawyers, because if anything goes wrong, they will have professional liability insurance in place.”
Only a lawyer registered with the Colegio de Abogados offers the protection of professional liability insurance should anything go wrong.
3. Initial consultation: ask questions
Once you've found potential lawyers, Alex recommends a preliminary call to ask about the buying process and important issues:
“Once you’ve found a lawyer, I would suggest you speak to them generally about the buying process. There’s a lot of questions… about ownership options.”
Clarify who will own the property—whether joint, company, or individuals—and how legal services will be structured.
4. Assess their online presence
“Look at the websites, look at testimonials. Testimonials are a great reflection of how well that law firm is doing.”
“Also, have a look at their YouTube channel… we've got a very active YouTube channel with lots of valuable advice on there.”
A strong online presence shows experience, transparency, and client engagement.
5. Choose a property specialist, not a litigator
“If you want a quick sale and you want it to flow easily, I suggest instructing a property lawyer as opposed to a litigator.”
Avoid lawyers whose expertise is in litigation—they may not understand typical transactions sufficiently or be available when you need them.
6. Language matters
“I’d always suggest instructing a lawyer that speaks your language and specialises in, for example, property matters.”
Choosing someone fluent in your language ensures clear communication and avoids misinterpretation during complex legal processes.
7. Broad Spanish coverage with local access
Alex favours firms with knowledge across Spain and the ability to help clients in various regions:
“Having a local lawyer involved in the matter for a property purchase is important. However... there are law firms, such as mine... who specialise in property. We’re familiar with the local laws across Spain.”
Whether you're buying in Asturias, Valencia, Madrid or the Balearics, make sure your lawyer can handle regional nuances.
8. What their services should cover
Alex outlines the full-service support a good property lawyer should provide:
“For example, we would put a power of attorney in place. We would apply for the Spanish tax number, the NIE number. We would open a bank account for a client.”
“Once the property purchase has been completed, we would set up home and contents insurance... and we would then basically set up direct debits for water, electric, community fees, town hall rates.”
Lawyers should guide you from day zero to move-in, not just handle contracts.
9. Ask for a letter of instruction
“Those services should be set out in a letter of instruction.”
This document should detail what you’ll receive, their fees, and an estimate of total costs including variable regional taxes.
10. Understand fees and transfer taxes
Alex explains typical costs:
“You should be asking the lawyer what services will you provide, how much you're going to charge, and also ask for a general budget of how much the overall property purchase will be.”
In Spain, watch region-specific taxes: e.g. Andalucía ~7% transfer tax, Valencian Community ~10% for second-hand properties.
“Generally speaking, it would be 1% with a minimum. You're looking at 1% of the purchase price, and the minimum may be around the €1,650 plus tax.”
In summary
Finding a dependable property lawyer in Spain doesn’t need to be daunting. As Alex Radford advises:
“We act for clients buying property all over Spain... what I’m finding is a lot more clients are coming to us educated, better informed.”
“So it’s always better to talk to a lawyer before you sign the contract, before you even... start looking at properties.”
Start early, vet credentials carefully, and choose a firm that can support your purchase from start to finish. With the right lawyer in place, your property journey in Spain can be smooth, safe, and stress‑free.
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