Who is Abogado Drake?
Juan Pascual Drake, a native English Speaker qualified in 2010 after a 5 year double Degree in law and economics from the University of Bilbao in northern Spain. This was complimented with several Masters Degrees in tax and administration law, insolvency law, legal practice and court representation.
After working as junior lawyer in Madrid for a year, he opened his own practice on Mallorca in February of 2012, which tailored comprehensive legal and tax services for expat clients. After a decade on the island, operations were moved to Valencia and the Spanish coast, where the practice is currently expanding.
Matching the Degrees, Juan Pascual Drake has extensive experience both in rendering legal and tax services for clients. From representation in civil and family matters, to advising a client facing criminal charges, each case is tended with a specific set of skills developed over years in the legal profession to ensure the best outcome for the client.
For more information on any topic, or to request one of our services, please feel free to book an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
1) Do I have to go to Valencia for a consultation?
While the main offices are in Valencia city, Abogado Drake can assist clients in different locations from Valencia to Benidorm and Alicante. If a personal meeting is not possible, we can always meet online.
2) Do I need a lawyer to buy a house in Spain? What do they do?
While it is not legally necessary to have a lawyer in Spain when buying a house, it is very risky to go ahead without one. A lawyer will normally conduct a full analysis or due diligence of the property title, to see if there are any liens, encumbrances, or otherwise problems; as well as to detect if the property has planning permission. Using a lawyer you ensure your dream home in Spain doesn’t become a nightmare.
3) How do I pay the deposit on a house?
In Spain the deposit on a house is paid to the seller, who has to reimburse the buyer with double the amount paid if they decline to sign the Deed of Sale. Likewise, if the buyer decides to back out, they lose their down payment. This is why a good option contract is a must.
4) Do I need a lawyer to file taxes?
While it is not legally necessary for a person to have a lawyer or accountant prepare their taxes and manage their books, it is highly recommended. Spain applies accrual accounting; a system not generally used in other countries. The Spanish Tax office can sometimes be difficult to navigate. We can provide you with clear guidance.
5) I want to live in Spain, do I need a NIE, a TIE or a visa?
The documents required to live and work in Spain differ depending on a person's coutry of origin, family and employment status. Abogado Drake can help you prepare and navigate the process of moving to Spain, helping you get settled in your new home country.
6) Do I need a Will in Spain?
It is not mandatory to have a will in Spain that only deals with your Spanish property. However, the process of getting a British will be translated and recognised in Spain is a lengthy and costly process, that in many cases can take years to be resolved. A Spanish will, which can act as a codicil to a British will, can be acknowledged in a matter of weeks, allowing for a swift and easy transition of property from the deceased to their loved ones, easing the burden in the hardest of times.
7) Will Spain tax my foreign pension?
Abogado Drake can help you properly declare taxes to avoid having your hard earned pension taxed twice, allowing your retirement in Spain to be as smothe and enjoyable as expected.
8) Are foreign marriages recognized? Can we divorce in Spain?
All foreign marriages celebrated according to your country's Law and customs are fully valid and recognized in Spain. If a foreign couple has established their home in Spain, it is possible to file for divorce here, without the need to return home for the procedure.
9) If I own a holiday home in Spain, what tax do I pay?
Aside from the regular council and rubbish tax, you will pay the non-residence tax, which is prepared and paid before the end of the year. It is a small amount which will depend on the cadastral value of your property (an official appraisal for tax purposes of every property in the country).
10) Can I drive a foreign car in Spain?
For a short period of time, yes. However if you are a resident, or the car is going to be permanently located in Spain, the Law requires you to “import” the vehicle and pay that year’s road tax.