How much does it cost to make a will before a notary?

Not much. The official notarial fee scale sets 30,05 euros per will, plus copies and VAT. In practice it usually costs between 40 and 50 euros. The price does not depend on the value of the assets or on what is left to each person. If two people, such as a married couple, make wills, a fee is charged for each.

Alburquerque Abogados

José Manuel Alburquerque
Inheritance and succession

What is included

  • Drafting the will according to your wishes, with the notary's advice. You do not need a lawyer, although for complicated estates it is advisable to consult one beforehand.
  • Notification to the “Registro de Actos de Última Voluntad”, Spain's central register of wills. That way, on your death, it will be known that the will exists and which one is the latest.
  • Keeping the original at the notary's office. You receive a copy.

What can make it more expensive

  • The notary having to go to the testator's home, a hospital or a care home. Travel is charged separately, by the hour.
  • The notary asking two doctors to certify the testator's capacity. They are paid separately.
  • The will being long, because beyond a certain length the fee is charged per sheet.

The alternatives

  • A handwritten will costs nothing to make. But afterwards the heirs have to take it to a notary to verify that it is genuine, which means more expense and a greater risk of it being disputed. If nobody presents it within four years of the death, it ceases to be valid.
  • Without a will, the heirs need a declaration of heirs, which costs more and takes longer. And the estate is divided according to the law, not according to what the deceased would have wanted.

This applies if the estate is governed by Catalan law. Under the Spanish Civil Code (“Código Civil”) the time limit for presenting a handwritten will is five years.

This answer is provided for educational purposes and offers initial guidance on the question raised. Every matter has its own circumstances and nuances that require individual assessment. For that reason, before taking decisions with significant consequences, it is advisable to consult a professional and not to rely solely on this information. Personalised advice makes it possible to apply these explanations to the specific case and to assess the options available with greater certainty.