Renuncia de herencia ante notario
Renuncia a una herencia sin papeleo
Si la herencia tiene más deudas que bienes, renunciar puede ser la mejor opción. Preparamos la renuncia online y coordinamos la firma ante un notario cerca de ti, con plena validez legal.
¿Estás pensando en renunciar a una herencia?
Te asesoramos sin compromiso.
- Asesoría previa incluida
- Preparación online
- Listo en 48h
- Validez legal plena
¿Qué incluye el servicio de renuncia de herencia?
Te asesoramos antes de renunciar y gestionamos toda la tramitación notarial.
- Análisis de la herencia
- Revisamos el patrimonio del fallecido para confirmar si la renuncia es la opción más conveniente desde el punto de vista legal y fiscal.
- Asesoramiento sobre alternativas
- Antes de renunciar, te explicamos la opción de aceptar a beneficio de inventario, que limita tu responsabilidad a los bienes heredados.
- Escritura de renuncia
- Redactamos el documento de renuncia y coordinamos la cita para firmarla en persona ante un notario cerca de ti. Si no puedes acudir, se puede firmar con un poder especial para este acto.
- Notificación a los demás herederos
- Te informamos sobre las consecuencias de la renuncia para los demás herederos y el orden de sucesión.
¿Cómo se renuncia a una herencia?
La renuncia debe hacerse ante notario en documento público. No basta con un escrito privado.
-
1
Paso 1
Consulta y análisis
Revisamos la composición de la herencia y te asesoramos sobre si conviene renunciar o aceptar a beneficio de inventario.
-
2
Paso 2
Redacción del documento
Preparamos la escritura de renuncia con todos los elementos legales necesarios.
-
3
Paso 3
Firma ante notario
Firmas la renuncia en persona ante un notario cerca de ti, o con un poder especial para este acto si no puedes acudir. La renuncia es irrevocable.
¿Qué documentos necesito para renunciar?
- DNI o pasaporte del renunciante
- Certificado de defunción
- Certificado de últimas voluntades
- Copia del testamento (si existe)
La renuncia es irrevocable. Una vez firmada ante notario, no puede deshacerse.
Contact us — no obligation →¿Cuándo conviene renunciar a una herencia?
La renuncia tiene sentido cuando las deudas superan a los bienes. En España, aceptar una herencia implica responder de las deudas del fallecido con tu propio patrimonio (aceptación pura y simple). Si el fallecido tenía préstamos, deudas con Hacienda o hipotecas impagadas, podrías acabar pagando más de lo que recibes.
Antes de renunciar, valora la aceptación a beneficio de inventario: limita tu responsabilidad a los bienes heredados. Si la herencia tiene más activo que pasivo, cobras la diferencia. Si tiene más pasivo, no pagas nada de tu bolsillo.
Requisitos legales de la renuncia
La renuncia debe formalizarse en escritura pública ante notario (art. 1008 del Código Civil). No vale un documento privado, una carta o un correo electrónico. Debe ser expresa, gratuita (sin contraprestación) e irrevocable.
¿Qué pasa cuando renuncias a una herencia?
Tu parte se reparte entre los demás herederos según el orden de sucesión. Si renuncias y tienes hijos, en la sucesión intestada tus hijos heredan en tu lugar (derecho de representación). En la sucesión testada, depende de lo que disponga el testamento.
¿Puedo renunciar parcialmente?
No. La renuncia es total: no puedes aceptar los bienes y rechazar las deudas, ni quedarte con una parte de la herencia y renunciar al resto. Es todo o nada. Por eso la aceptación a beneficio de inventario suele ser una alternativa mejor cuando hay dudas sobre el patrimonio neto.
Dudas frecuentes sobre renuncia de herencia
See all FAQs
Can I incorporate a company in Spain if I am a foreigner or non-resident?
Yes. Foreign citizens can incorporate and be partners or administrators of a Spanish Limited Liability Company as long as they have:
- NIE (Foreign Identification Number): essential for any tax procedure in Spain, including the incorporation of companies.
- Valid passport
The NIE can be obtained:
- In Spain at the National Police
- Abroad through the Spanish consulate
Once incorporated, the Spanish company operates normally. The administrator can be a non-resident in Spain, although they will be taxed in Spain on the income obtained in the country.
Our team advises non-residents throughout the entire process, including obtaining the NIE.
What types of notarial powers exist?
Notarial powers are classified according to their scope:
- General Power: authorizes the attorney-in-fact to act in any matter on behalf of the principal (patrimonial, personal, judicial, etc.).
- Special Power: limited to a specific act: to sell a specific property, to sign a specific contract, to represent in a specific lawsuit.
- Power for Lawsuits: to act in judicial and arbitral proceedings.
- Banking Power: to operate accounts, contract financial products, etc.
- Preventive Power: for the case of future incapacity of the principal (widely used in dependency planning).
- Irrevocable Power: in specific cases, it cannot be revoked unilaterally.
The choice of the appropriate type depends on what the power is needed for. Our team advises on the most suitable modality in each case.
Is it mandatory to cancel the mortgage registration when it is paid?
Legally it is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. When you finish paying the mortgage, the bank gives you the certificate of zero debt, but the mortgage remains registered in the Property Registry with all its legal effects until it is formally canceled.
Consequences of not canceling it:
- When selling the property, the buyer will see the mortgage in the Registry and will demand its prior cancellation (or retention of the price to cancel it)
- It is impossible to apply for a new mortgage on that property without canceling the previous one
- In general, any operation on the property becomes complicated
When does the mortgage prescribe? Mortgages prescribe after 20 years from the due date of the last amortization installment, if the enforcement action has not been exercised. But this period is very long to wait.
Can I process a Spanish inheritance while abroad?
Yes, it is perfectly possible. Thanks to the Law 11/2023 on notarial digitalization and the possibility of granting powers via video call, you can manage the entire Spanish inheritance without needing to travel to Spain.
The options are:
- Notarial power via video call: in 24-48 hours you can grant a power before a Spanish notary via videoconference, authorizing a trusted person or our office to act on your behalf in Spain. It is the fastest and most economical option.
- Telematic appearance: when the time comes for signing the deed of adjudication, you can appear yourself via videoconference.
- Power before consulate: if you prefer not to make video calls, you can grant the power at the Spanish consulate in your country.
We have managed inheritances for Spaniards in Mexico, Argentina, United Kingdom, Germany, U.S., Australia, and more than 30 countries. The process is identical to that of a regular inheritance, and the timelines are similar: between 2 and 8 weeks.
Do non-resident heirs in Spain pay more inheritance tax?
Not necessarily. Since the ruling of the Court of Justice of the EU in 2014 and subsequent legal reforms, non-resident heirs have the right to apply the regulations of the autonomous community where the inherited assets are located, just like residents.
This is particularly advantageous in communities such as:
- Madrid: 99% deduction for spouse, descendants, and ascendants
- Canaries: 99.9% deduction for direct family members
- Andalusia: 99% deduction for direct family members since 2019
However, if the assets are in communities with a higher tax burden (Catalonia, Valencian Community, Aragon), the bill may be higher. Our team analyzes your case and calculates the exact taxation before initiating the procedure.
How long does the online inheritance process take?
The complete online inheritance process usually takes between 2 and 8 weeks. The timelines depend on several factors:
- The existence or not of a will (without a will, the process is somewhat longer as it requires a declaration of heirs)
- The number of heirs and their availability to sign
- The complexity of the estate (properties in different registers, accounts in various banks, investments, etc.)
- The efficiency of administrative bodies (Civil Registry, notaries in other municipalities, etc.)
In simple cases with a will and a single property, the process can be completed in 6-8 weeks.
What documents are required to process an inheritance?
The necessary documents to process an inheritance in Spain are:
- Death certificate of the deceased (Civil Registry)
- Certificate of Last Wills from the Ministry of Justice (confirms if there is a will and before which notary)
- Will (authorized copy if it exists)
- DNI/NIE of the deceased and of all heirs
- Family Book to prove kinship
- Deeds of real estate properties owned by the deceased
- Bank certificates with balance as of the date of death
- Documentation of vehicles, investment funds, or other assets
Our team will precisely inform you of the documents required in each case and assist you in obtaining them.
Is there a deadline for paying the inheritance tax?
Yes. The Inheritance and Gift Tax (ISD) must be settled within the 6 months following the death. There is the possibility to request an extension of another 6 months if requested before the original deadline expires.
Consequences of not paying on time:
- 5% surcharge if paid within the 3 months following the expiration of the deadline
- 10% surcharge between 3 and 6 months of delay
- 15% surcharge between 6 and 12 months of delay
- 20% surcharge if it exceeds 12 months, plus late payment interest
The deadline for the Municipal Capital Gains Tax is also 6 months from the death.
What is the declaration of heirs and when is it necessary?
The declaration of intestate heirs is the notarial procedure to determine who are the legal heirs of a person who has died without a will.
It is necessary when:
- The deceased did not grant a will
- The will has been declared null
- The persons named in the will have died or renounced the inheritance
The legal order of heirs without a will in Spain is:
- Children and descendants
- Parents and ascendants
- Surviving spouse
- Siblings and nephews
- Other collateral relatives up to the fourth degree
- The State (in the absence of the previous ones)
The procedure is carried out before a notary and takes approximately between 2 and 4 weeks.
How much does it cost to process an inheritance?
The cost of an inheritance has several components:
- Inheritance and Gift Tax: varies greatly by autonomous community and the value of the inheritance. There are autonomous communities with a 99% discount (Madrid, Canary Islands) and others without any discount.
- Municipal Capital Gain (IIVTNU): is calculated on the increase in value of urban land, only if there are properties.
- Notarial fees: fees regulated by the State, proportional to the value of the assets.
- Property Registry: to register the properties in the name of the heirs.
- Management fees: those of Notaría Online for coordinating the entire process.
Request a personalized quote without obligation on our website or by calling +34 611 422 933.
Can I renounce an inheritance?
Yes. In Spain, it is possible to accept, accept with benefit of inventory, or renounce an inheritance.
Pure and simple renunciation: the heir does not acquire the assets or the debts of the deceased. The renunciation must be made before a notary and is irrevocable.
When is it advisable to renounce? When the debts of the deceased exceed the value of the assets, or when it is more advantageous from a tax perspective for the children to inherit directly (translative renunciation).
Acceptance with benefit of inventory: allows accepting the inheritance by limiting the liability to the value of the inherited assets, without responding with personal assets. It is the most prudent option when there is uncertainty about the debts.
The deadline to accept or renounce is indefinite, but the Tax Authority may claim if the tax is not settled within 6 months.
What are the taxes involved in the processing of an inheritance?
How long does it take to complete the inheritance process?
Do I need a lawyer or legal advisor to begin the inheritance process?
What are the main steps in the inheritance process?
- The location of the will in case the deceased had granted such document. If in fact a will had been granted, we would have to obtain the authorized copy of it by providing the certificate of last wills and the death certificate.
- On the contrary, if no will had been granted, we will have to grant the deed of declaration of heirs, requiring also the death certificate and the one of last wills, in addition to all personal data of the heirs.
- We must investigate to know what all the assets of the deceased person were, gathering the necessary information from banks, property registries, vehicles, as well as any other type of inheritable assets.
- Once we have all the documentation, we must present to the liquidating office of the autonomous community where the deceased passed away, a list of assets providing all the information, in addition to presenting form 650 and forms 660.
- Likewise, regarding the properties that the deceased had, a document must be presented in the town councils where those estates are located for the settlement of the municipal tax on the increase in value of urban land, commonly known as capital gains tax.
- With this, we would have complied with what the law requires, leaving pending the granting of the corresponding deed of inheritance adjudication to award those assets to the heirs in accordance with the will or in accordance with the declaration of heirs.
How does our Inheritance Service work?
You may also be interested in
- Powers of Attorney Authorise someone you trust to act on your behalf in legal and administrative matters. Signed by video call wi...
- Inheritances We handle your inheritance from start to finish, with a specialist lawyer assigned to your case: the will, dec...
- Online Wills Draft your will and sign it before a registered notary. You make the important decisions; we handle the proces...
Would you rather read up before deciding? There are guides on herencias on the blog and short answers in the FAQs.
Who handles your procedure
A team of lawyers and administrators prepares the paperwork, explains what you are going to sign and books you in with one of the registered notaries in our network. We are not a notary: the signature is always authorised by the notary.
- 25 years of experience
- A network of more than 30 registered notaries
- 4.8 on Google, 302 reviews
- We usually reply within 24 hours
Shall we start on your procedure?
We respond in under 24 hours, no commitment required.