Legal
Inheritances & Donations
Protecting family wealth and ensuring smooth transfers across generations
What is it?
The transfer of assets between generations is one of the most emotionally and legally complex processes a family faces. Spanish inheritance law involves strict procedural steps, firm deadlines, and tax obligations that can catch beneficiaries off guard at an already difficult time. At GCT1 we manage the full process — from locating the will and accepting the estate to paying the inheritance tax and updating property registries — so the family can focus on what matters.
We also work proactively with clients who want to plan ahead. A well-structured will, a family protocol, or a carefully timed donation can significantly reduce the tax burden, avoid future disputes between heirs, and ensure that the right assets pass to the right people under the right conditions. The Valencian Community has its own inheritance tax regulations, and local expertise makes a measurable difference to the final bill.
For international families or those with assets in multiple countries, we coordinate cross-border succession planning, applying EU Succession Regulation 650/2012 where relevant and liaising with foreign advisors when needed.
Who is it for?
- Heirs and beneficiaries managing an estate after a bereavement
- Individuals and couples planning their succession and wishing to draft or update a will
- Parents wishing to make gifts of property, money, or business interests to children
- Expats and foreign nationals with assets or family ties in the Alicante province
- Business owners seeking to plan the orderly transfer of company shares to the next generation
What's included in our service
- Locating and obtaining the will from the Registro de Últimas Voluntades
- Inventory and valuation of estate assets and liabilities
- Drafting of the partition and adjudication deed (cuaderno particional)
- Calculation and filing of Inheritance and Gift Tax (Impuesto de Sucesiones y Donaciones)
- Registration of inherited property at the Land Registry
- Drafting of wills and advance directives
- Planning and formalising donations with tax-efficient timing and structure
Documentation you will need to provide
- Death certificate and last-will certificate (Registro de Últimas Voluntades)
- Family book (Libro de Familia) or civil registry documents
- Property deeds, bank certificates, and inventory of assets
- NIE/NIF of all heirs and beneficiaries
- Previous gift or donation deeds if applicable
Key deadlines
- Inheritance and Gift Tax declaration: 6 months from date of death (extendable by a further 6 months on request)
- Extension request must be submitted within the first 5 months
- Land Registry update: advisable within the tax declaration period to avoid additional filings
Why GCT1
- Specialists in Valencian Community inheritance tax regulations — we identify every available exemption and reduction
- Combined legal and tax team under one roof so the legal partition and the fiscal settlement are always aligned
- Sensitive, human approach during difficult family moments, with clear communication at every stage
- 30 years of experience handling cross-border estates for the large expat community in the Alicante province
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