What to Do When Someone Dies

When someone dies in Spain, time-sensitive actions begin immediately. Within 24 hours, you must register the death at the local Registro Civil (Civil Registry). First, obtain a medical death certificate from the attending doctor - this is issued immediately at hospitals or by the family doctor for home deaths. Contact a funeral home right away, as they will guide you through paperwork and can often handle Registro Civil registration on your behalf. The funeral home will prepare the body and arrange either burial or cremation, which typically occurs within 24-48 hours in Spain due to the warm climate and local customs. Order at least 10-15 certified death certificates (certificado de defunción) from the Registro Civil, as you'll need multiple original copies for banks, insurance companies, pension providers, and property transfers. Each copy costs approximately €3-5. If the death occurred unexpectedly or without medical supervision, the police and a court-appointed doctor (médico forense) must be notified to certify the cause of death before the funeral home can proceed. During this critical first day, also contact the deceased's employer if they were working, notify their insurance company, and inform close family members. Find English-speaking funeral homes in our Professional Directory to help navigate this process smoothly.

Choosing a funeral home (tanatorio or funeraria) in Spain is one of your first decisions, and finding one with English-speaking staff can significantly reduce stress during this difficult time. Funeral costs in Spain range from €3,000-8,000 depending on the region and services selected. Basic cremation packages start around €3,000-4,500, while traditional burials with a cemetery plot cost €5,000-8,000 or more. Major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga have international funeral homes accustomed to working with expat families. These funeral homes typically offer complete packages including: body preparation and viewing, transportation to cemetery or crematorium, death registration assistance, and coordination with the Registro Civil. When comparing funeral homes, ask about: total all-inclusive pricing (some advertise low base rates but add many surcharges), whether Registro Civil fees are included, repatriation services if you want to transport the body to another country (costs €5,000-15,000 additional), and availability of English-language paperwork. Spanish funerals traditionally happen within 24-48 hours, but funeral homes can accommodate delays if family members need time to arrive from abroad. Most funeral homes require payment upfront or within days, so having access to the deceased's bank account or sufficient personal funds is important. Check our Professional Directory for vetted English-speaking funeral homes in your area.

The Spanish death certificate (certificado de defunción) is issued by the Registro Civil and is essential for closing accounts, claiming insurance, and transferring property. You will need many copies - most families require 10-15 certified originals. Each institution (bank, insurance company, pension fund, property registry) requires an original certificate, and they will not accept photocopies. Order extras initially, as obtaining additional copies later requires either visiting the Registro Civil in person or using official channels which takes time. There are two types of death certificates in Spain: the Certificado Literal de Defunción (detailed version showing all information) and the Certificado de Defunción (standard version). For most purposes, the standard version suffices and costs €3-5 per copy. The literal version costs slightly more (€5-7) and may be required for complex inheritance cases or international matters. To obtain copies, visit the Registro Civil where the death was registered with your passport and proof of relationship to the deceased (your birth certificate if you're the child, marriage certificate if spouse). Alternatively, request copies online through the Spanish Justice Ministry website, though this requires a digital certificate (certificado digital). If you're not in Spain, you can authorize someone with a power of attorney to obtain copies on your behalf, or request them through the Spanish consulate in your country. Keep all certificates in a safe place - you'll need them for months as you work through the inheritance and closure process.

Spain's most critical deadline when someone dies is the 6-month window to pay Inheritance Tax (Impuesto sobre Sucesiones) to your regional tax authority (Hacienda Autonómica). Missing this deadline triggers substantial penalties: 5-20% surcharges plus daily interest charges that accumulate quickly. The tax is calculated based on the total value of assets inherited and your relationship to the deceased, with rates varying dramatically by autonomous community. Madrid, Andalucía, Cantabria, and several other regions offer 99% tax reductions for direct descendants and spouses, meaning you might pay nearly nothing. However, Catalonia, Asturias, Murcia, and others charge the full state rates of 7.65-34% depending on the amount inherited. For example, inheriting €200,000 in Madrid might cost €200 in tax, while the same inheritance in Asturias could cost €28,000-34,000. The 6-month clock starts from the date of death, not from when you learn about the death or complete the inheritance deed. You can request a 6-month extension, but you must file the request before the original deadline expires, and you'll pay interest on the tax due from month 6 onwards. To pay the tax, you first need the inheritance acceptance deed (escritura de aceptación de herencia) signed at a notary, showing what each heir receives. A gestoría or tax advisor can calculate your exact tax liability and file form Modelo 650 with your regional tax office. Don't delay - start the inheritance process within 2-3 months of death to ensure you can complete all notary steps and pay tax before the 6-month deadline. Late payment can also block property transfers and bank account access.

One of the first decisions after a death in Spain is whether to arrange a local funeral or repatriate the body to another country. Repatriation is expensive (typically €5,000-15,000) and logistically complex, requiring special documentation, embalming, sealed caskets meeting international air transport regulations, and coordination between funeral homes in both countries. Most travel insurance policies include repatriation coverage up to certain limits (often €5,000-10,000), so check the deceased's insurance immediately - this can save significant costs. The repatriation process takes 4-10 days and requires: a death certificate translated and apostilled, embalming certificate, permission from Spanish authorities to export the body, airline cargo booking, and receiving funeral home coordination in the destination country. Alternatively, you can arrange cremation in Spain (€3,000-4,500) and transport the ashes internationally, which is much simpler and cheaper - ashes can be hand-carried on flights with the death certificate and cremation certificate. Many expat families choose local burial or cremation in Spain, especially if the deceased had lived there many years and established a life. Spanish cemeteries offer both traditional in-ground burials and niche burials (burial walls called columbarios), with prices varying by location - €2,000-5,000 for a plot or niche. Cremation is increasingly common in Spain and is the most economical choice. If you choose local arrangements, family members can still hold a memorial service in their home country separately. Funeral homes in Spain experienced with expats can explain all options and help you understand the trade-offs. The decision often comes down to the deceased's wishes (if known), family preferences, cost considerations, and insurance coverage.

Navigating a death in Spain as an expat involves avoiding several common pitfalls. First, not ordering enough death certificates - families often order 3-5 copies and then discover they need 10-15, requiring multiple return trips to the Registro Civil. Order 15 copies initially; unused copies are a small expense compared to the hassle of obtaining more later. Second, missing the 6-month inheritance tax deadline - this is Spain's most costly mistake, triggering 5-20% penalties plus daily interest. Start the inheritance process within 2 months of death to ensure completion before the deadline. Third, using the property seller's lawyer for inheritance matters - when inheriting Spanish property, the deceased likely used a lawyer when purchasing it, but that lawyer represented the seller's interests, not the buyer's. Hire your own independent lawyer to review the inheritance and ensure no hidden debts or claims exist on the property. Fourth, not checking for debts before accepting the inheritance - Spanish inheritance law makes heirs liable for the deceased's debts up to the value of the estate. Before signing the acceptance deed, investigate whether the deceased had mortgages, loans, tax debts, or other liabilities. You can accept the inheritance "with benefit of inventory" (aceptación a beneficio de inventario), limiting your liability to estate assets only. Fifth, assuming all regions have the same inheritance tax - rates vary wildly from near-zero in Madrid to 34% in other regions. Research your specific autonomous community's rates before assuming the cost. Sixth, not consulting a gestoría or tax advisor - Spanish inheritance law is complex with regional variations, mandatory notary procedures, and multiple tax filings. Professional help (€500-1,500) prevents costly errors and ensures compliance. Finally, trying to rush the process - Spanish inheritance requires the 15-day waiting period for the will registry check, notary appointments that may take weeks to schedule, and coordination among multiple heirs. Allow 6-12 months for a straightforward estate, longer if complex. Find English-speaking lawyers and tax advisors in our Professional Directory.