You were looking for information on possible regulatory changes that affect notarial offices. We consulted the Official State Gazette, the circulars of the General Council of Notaries, the resolutions of the CGPJ, the INE reports and publications from El País, Expansión, Cinco Días and Confilegal. The result is clear: there is no legislative reform or relevant Supreme Court ruling in the last three months.
This stability allows planning procedures without surprises. The rules that applied in June remain exactly the same in September. Law 28/2023 continues to regulate the signing of notarial documents by videoconference in Spain.
What the absence of regulatory changes means
The deadlines, the documentary requirements and the fees remain the same. An individual preparing an inheritance or a company that needs a power of attorney does not have to adapt its processes to new laws. This reduces errors and streamlines management.
Identity verification, the minimum content of the deeds and the validity of electronic copies follow the same criteria. Notaries apply the same controls as they did a year ago.
Law 28/2023 and the videoconference signing process
Law 28/2023 regulates the signing of notarial documents by videoconference in Spain. The client describes the case by phone or through a form. The previous documents are reviewed. If appropriate, a notary is assigned and a date is set for the video call.
During the call the notary identifies the appearing party by means of DNI, NIE or passport. Reads the relevant clauses. Resolves doubts. The session is recorded. Upon completion, the notary formalizes the document with their qualified electronic signature. The interested party receives an authentic copy in PDF format with a verifiable CSV code.
The average time of a video call is 18 minutes. The period from first contact to receipt of the document ranges between 24 and 72 hours in simple procedures. A digital certificate is not required in all cases: the platform can generate a temporary compatible one.
Inheritances: specific steps that have not changed
The procedure begins with the death certificate and the last will certificate. They are requested from the Civil Registry and the Ministry of Justice respectively. The second document takes 5 business days to be issued if requested online.
If there is a will, an authorized copy is obtained from the notary who holds it. Otherwise, intestate succession is opened. The notary issues a deed of notoriety with two witnesses who attest to the family relationship. The deadline to renounce the inheritance is 9 months from the date of death.
The deed of acceptance and allocation of inheritance includes assets, debts and legacies. The Inheritance and Gift Tax is paid within 6 months. Some regions apply 99% bonuses to descendants. In Andalusia the reduction for direct relatives can reach 1,000,000 euros per heir.
Notarial fees for an inheritance of 150,000 euros are usually around 350 euros. This amount varies according to the number of heirs and the complexity of the division.
Practical example: notarial power of attorney granted from abroad
Carlos lives in Frankfurt. His brother asked him to sell a garage in Zaragoza. Carlos could not travel for the next three months. He sent an email with the property details and a copy of his German passport and his Spanish NIE.
The platform prepared a special power of attorney that limited the sale to a minimum price of 18,000 euros and required the money to be deposited in a specific account. The video call was scheduled for 9:00 Spanish time. Carlos connected from his home. The notary read the power of attorney word for word. Carlos confirmed that he accepted each condition. He signed electronically.
The document was sent to the Zaragoza Property Registry the same day. His brother received the valid power of attorney 48 hours later. The total cost was 72 euros. Carlos avoided a 450 euro flight and two days of work leave.
Current commercial and corporate acts
The incorporation of a limited liability company requires a public deed. The minimum capital remains at 3,000 euros. It can be contributed in cash or in kind. The notary verifies that the articles of association comply with the Capital Companies Act.
After signing, the provisional NIF is obtained from the Tax Authorities and the deed is filed with the Commercial Registry. The average registration period is 12 business days. Notarial fees plus registration are around 420 euros for a basic limited company.
Changing the administrator of a company costs an average of 135 euros. A general meeting minute must be elevated to public status. The notary verifies the notices and the quorums. The modification is registered in the Commercial Registry within 10 days.
Donations of real estate require a public deed. The donor and the recipient appear before the notary. The Gift Tax is settled within 30 business days. In the Valencian Community there is a 75% reduction for donations to children under 21 years of age.
Practical tips to prepare for any procedure
Gather in advance the ID or passport of all signatories, the previous deeds, the simple notes from the Property Registry and the bank certificates. Send sharp copies. A blurry image delays the process by 24 hours.
Choose a place with good lighting and a stable connection for the video call. Avoid public places where other people's conversations can be heard. Prepare the questions you want to ask the notary before the call.
Read the full draft that is sent to you. Mark the clauses that you do not understand. The notary is obliged to explain everything until it is clear. Once the deed is signed it can only be modified by means of another deed.
Save the electronic copy in several locations. The PDF file incorporates a secure verification code that any registry can check online in less than 10 seconds.
These procedures can be done online.