Note
Lawyer fees when buying property in Spain
Quick answer
No official scale sets a lawyer’s fee, so quotes differ. Ask for a written engagement letter that lists the services, the fee, the tax on it and what is excluded. Appoint a lawyer who acts only for you, not one proposed by the seller or developer. We print no amounts.
Applies toBuyers deciding whether and how to hire a lawyer for a purchase in Spain. It does not replace legal advice on your own contract.
This area of Spanish law is complex. We could not open the legal text behind the point below in full on the official site, so we state it as it is generally understood and have not checked it word for word. Before you rely on it, ask an independent Spanish lawyer who acts for you to confirm it for your case.
- On a sale of real estate the costs of granting the deed fall on the seller and those of the first copy and later documents on the buyer, unless the parties agree otherwise (art. 1455 Código Civil).
On this page: 7 sections
§ 1No official scale
Notary and registry fees follow state scales. Lawyer fees do not. We know of no official scale that we can cite, and the market varies with the city, the lawyer and the work involved. That freedom is useful, because you can compare, and risky, because two quotes can describe different services at different totals. The first discipline is to ask for the quote in writing, in an engagement letter, which in Spanish is the hoja de encargo.
§ 2Fixed fee or percentage
Lawyers quote in two main ways. A fixed fee covers a defined list of services. A percentage ties the fee to the price. A fixed fee makes budgeting easier, while a percentage may rise with the price without any extra work. Neither is better in itself. What matters is the list of services behind the number, so ask the lawyer to put it in the letter.
§ 3What the fee should cover
A purchase fee normally covers the review of the draft contract and the arras agreement, the registry checks, the verification of the seller's title and charges, the review of the community and tax receipts, the preparation for the notary and attendance at the signing. Some quotes add the tax return, registration and the change of utilities, and others leave them to a gestor. The registrars advise checking the registry entry, the last property tax receipt, community fees and the energy and habitability certificates before signing, and your lawyer should do or supervise these checks.
§ 4Independence
A lawyer must act for you. A professional proposed by the agent, the seller or the developer can be competent and still be placed between your interest and theirs. The notary gives free and impartial advice, but the notary does not act for either side. If you want someone to negotiate your side, appoint your own lawyer, and say so before any papers are prepared. You may also choose your own notary.
§ 5Power of attorney
Many foreign buyers sign through a power of attorney so they need not be present. The notary checks the authority of the attorney, and the lawyer prepares the document. A power of attorney is a serious instrument, so ask for its scope in writing, its duration and how to cancel it. The fee for preparing it is usually separate from the main fee.
§ 6What to ask before you instruct
Ask what is included and what is not, the tax on the fee and when it is due, who will do the work, how you will be updated, and what happens if the purchase falls through. Ask whether a deposit is requested and where it is held. Compare this with the notary's role in the notary fee scale and the registry in the cost of registration.
The gestor's work, which some lawyers include, is explained in how a gestor is paid.
§ 7Keeping costs in proportion
A legal review costs less than the price of an error on a large purchase, but you can still choose the scope. A thorough check before the arras payment is worth more than an expensive attendance at the signing. The full list of professional costs is in the overview of fees.
FAQRelated questions
Do I need a lawyer to buy in Spain?
The law does not require one, but the notary advises both parties and does not act for you. An independent lawyer reads the contract, checks the registry and protects your side, so most foreign buyers appoint one.
Is the fee a fixed percentage?
There is no official percentage or scale that we can cite. Some lawyers quote a fixed fee, others a share of the price. Ask for the basis in writing and compare the totals for the same services, not the rates.
Can the agent’s lawyer act for me?
It is risky. A lawyer proposed by the agent, the seller or the developer has links with them. Appoint someone who acts only for you, and ask for the engagement letter to say so in plain words.
Sources
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Real Decreto 1426/1989 por el que se aprueba el Arancel de los Notarios (official source, opens in a new window), Article 1 and annexesLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Real Decreto 1427/1989 por el que se aprueba el Arancel de los Registradores de la Propiedad (official source, opens in a new window), Article 1 and annexesLast checked 17 October 2026
- Boletín Oficial del Estado: Código Civil (BOE-A-1889-4763) (official source, opens in a new window), Article 1455: costs of the deed of saleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Consejo General del Notariado: Houses and real estate properties (official source, opens in a new window), Steps, documents and the notary's roleLast checked 17 October 2026
- Colegio de Registradores de España: Cómo comprar una vivienda en España (edición revisada, February 2020) (official source, opens in a new window), The five steps, nota simple, taxes and costsLast checked 17 October 2026
Tax note. Rates depend on the region, the type of property and the buyer, and they change. Figures here are dated and sourced; examples are illustrative and show their assumptions. Confirm yours with the regional tax agency or a tax adviser.