Spain · Inheritance · Fixed-fee law firm
Releasing a Spanish bank account after a death
When someone dies, a Spanish bank freezes their account straight away — and won't release it to the family without the right proof. If that account is all there is, you don't need a full estate service. We unfreeze and release it for you, for a fixed fee, without you leaving home.
You don’t have to become an expert in Spanish banking law overnight — that’s our job. Where the person who died left only a Spanish bank account and no property, this is the service for you: smaller and simpler than settling a whole estate, and priced accordingly.
If there is also a Spanish property to deal with, the account is handled as part of that work instead — see administering a Spanish estate.
Why the account is frozen — and what it takes to release it
When a person dies, a Spanish bank freezes their account until the inheritance is properly sorted out. It is a protective measure — it stops anyone withdrawing money before the estate is settled. A death certificate on its own is not enough; the bank needs proof that you are a legal heir, and proof that the inheritance has been declared to the tax office.
That proof comes from two things we obtain for you: the heirs’ entitlement — through the deed of acceptance and adjudication of the inheritance (or, where there is no will, the Declaración de Herederos) — and the inheritance-tax filing (the Impuesto de Sucesiones). How much tax, if any, is due depends on the region and the relationship — many autonomous communities give large reductions for close family — but the filing must still be made. Once the bank has both, it releases the funds.
The full picture, in plain English: the bank has frozen the account — what now?
What we do for you
- Identify the accounts. We establish the Spanish accounts the person held, working from the bank certificates and the tax records.
- Prove the heirs. We obtain the deed of acceptance (or the Declaración de Herederos), and a Spanish tax number (NIE) for each heir who needs one.
- File the tax declaration. We make the Impuesto de Sucesiones filing the bank requires (often little or no tax for close family, depending on the region — but the filing is mandatory).
- Deal with the bank. We assemble each bank’s paperwork, submit the release request, and chase it — escalating firmly if a bank drags its feet.
- Account to you. When the funds are released, we reconcile the balance and confirm everything to you in writing.
We act for you under a power of attorney, so you never need to travel to Spain, and everything is handled in plain English.
A typical situation
Margaret’s mother had retired to the Costa Blanca and died there. She rented her home, so there was no property — but she left one Spanish bank account with about €30,000 in it, frozen the moment the bank learned she had died. Margaret, in Bristol, didn’t need a full estate service. We proved the heirs, made the tax filing, and released the account to Margaret, without her leaving home. One account: €1,500 + VAT.
Our fee
A fixed fee, agreed in writing before we start, with third-party costs shown separately — never folded into our fee.
- One account: €1,500 + VAT.
- Two or more accounts: €1,000 + VAT per account.
Some estates are more involved — several accounts, a large balance, a joint account with a surviving spouse, or a creditor to deal with. If yours is, we’ll tell you at the outset and agree the right approach with you before any work begins.
VAT is charged at the Spanish rate (currently 21%) and always shown separately, so our fee is clear.
How long it takes
Most Spanish banks release an account within a few weeks to a few months of receiving a complete request, once the deed and the tax filing are in place — some quickly, others more slowly. We submit everything correctly the first time to keep it as short as possible, keep you updated, and press the bank if it falls quiet.
Common questions
Why has the Spanish bank frozen the account?
When a person dies, a Spanish bank freezes their account until the inheritance is properly sorted out — a protective measure that stops anyone withdrawing money before the estate is settled. A death certificate alone is not enough: the bank needs proof you are a legal heir and that the inheritance has been declared to the tax office.
What does it cost to release a Spanish bank account?
A fixed fee: €1,500 + VAT for one account, and €1,000 + VAT per account where there are two or more. Third-party costs are shown separately.
Do I need a full estate service if there is only a bank account?
No. Where the person left only a Spanish bank account and no property, this standalone service is all you need — smaller and simpler than settling a whole estate, and priced accordingly.