The European Commission has announced that it will order Spain to appear before the European Court because of its ‘discriminatory rules relating to Inheritance and Gift Taxes’. This situation has arisen because, despite receiving two previous warnings in 2010 and earlier this year, non-resident EU citizens are still being asked to pay higher taxes than those resident in Spain.

It is a practice that is in direct contravention of the laws permitting the free movement of EU citizens within Europe, and Spanish representatives will no doubt be told that the current situation needs to be rectified as soon as possible

Making a new life in Spain has been the choice of many British immigrants, the warm climate and relaxed way of life offering a more attractive alternative to the rain and indoor lifestyle of the UK.

However, any expat who owns property in Spain should make a legally viable Spanish will to ensure that their heirs receive everything to which they are entitled.

Expats need to be fully informed of the following areas: 

• As a foreigner, how do inheritance law issues affect me?
• How can I legally minimise the amount of tax that my heirs will have to pay?
• How long will it take to settle my estate?

If you live in the Fuengirola area and don't already know the solution to these questions, there is an easy way to find answers, since Perez Legal Group will be holding a friendly and informal seminar and Q&A session in the town on 28th September. Raquel Perez and her team have years of experience in this field and have even created their own downloadable brochure on the subject.

The seminar about inheritance tax for foreigners in Spain held by Perez Legal Group on 12 May was a resounding success.

Speaking at the Centro Ciomijas in La Cala de Mijas on 12 May, Raquel Perez addressed the more than 170 visitors, highlighting the most important inheritance tax issues applicable to foreign residents in Spain or those with property or assets in the country.

It was the popularity of the series of articles on inheritance that inspired the idea of the seminar, which received the full backing of the Mijas Town Hall and its very active and highly respected Foreign Residents Department.

If you have questions about any aspect of the Spanish laws of inheritance you can now have them answered at one of Perez Legal Group’s seminars on the subject.

Have you ever wondered:

• How are foreigners affected by inheritance tax?
• Can you legally avoid paying a large amount of inheritance tax?
• What kind of deadlines might be involved in the inheritance process?
  

If so, don’t worry - you are not alone. In fact, this subject has proved so popular that Perez Legal Group has decided to give local ex-pats the opportunity to air their concerns. Inspired by the interest in its downloadable brochure on inheritance issues, Perez Legal Group is now offering focused advice at a series of friendly and informative seminars where visitors will also have a chance to ask questions about these and other legal topics that may concern them.

British pensioners living in Spain are in the very fortunate position of benefiting from increases in UK pensions. Since they contributed to the fund from which they now draw their monthly payment, this situation seems perfectly fair and just.

Spare a thought, therefore, for the hundreds of thousands of pensioners who live in Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, who have also contributed to the pension fund but whose payments are frozen at the level at which they first started drawing them. Some overseas pensioners are receiving no more than six pounds per week and – unless there is some profound change of policy – will continue to miss out on the increases that their British and European based counterparts are enjoying

Everyone knows how complicated life can become if you die without first making a will. Even if you leave your affairs intestate in your country of birth, your family could be forced to look on helplessly as an ever-growing legal team devours their inheritance. Just imagine how much more complex the situation becomes when an individual also owns property or has bank accounts in a foreign country?

Whilst Spain is often renowned for its slow and comfortable pace of life, when it comes to dealing with the affairs of someone who has passed away, the process is almost too fast!

Within 24 hours of a person's death, the civil registry must be formally notified using specific documentation.