Inheritance with a firm
or on your own:
which suits you

← Analysis

Almost every family asks the same question when an estate is opened: can we do this ourselves or do we need a firm? The answer depends on three things: how many heirs there are, what assets there are, and how much time and headspace you have at a moment when, usually, neither is in good supply.

What has to be done, whoever does it

The steps do not change. Death certificate, certificate of last wills and of life insurance. Authorised copy of the will or, if there is none, a declaration of heirs before a notary. Inventory and valuation of all assets and debts. Partition deed with the distribution, and deed of acceptance and award. Settlement of Inheritance Tax and, if there is urban property, of the municipal capital gains tax. Finally, registration of the property at the Land Registry and change of ownership of accounts, vehicles and utilities.

Each step has its deadline and its paperwork. The one that matters most is Inheritance Tax: six months from the death, extendable by another six if requested within the first five. We explain it in how long it takes to receive an inheritance.

When doing it yourself makes sense

Some estates really are simple: a single heir, a clear will, one bank account and, at most, the family home in the same province, with no debts or tenants. In that case, with time, patience and a notary to guide you, you can do it yourself. You will pay the notary, the taxes and the registry, which are the same with or without a firm, and you save the cost of a firm.

The real cost is your time: requesting certificates, working out what value to declare for each asset, preparing the tax form with the regional tax office and going back to the registry if something does not add up. For a simple estate that can mean several weeks of running around. Manageable if there is no hurry and no conflict.

When going it alone costs more

Several heirs. As soon as there are two or more, the partition deed stops being a form and becomes a negotiation: who keeps the flat, how the others are compensated, what happens to what nobody wants. Without someone neutral proposing the split, the estate stalls. And while it stalls, the tax clock keeps running.

Property. Each property has a cadastral reference value that sets the minimum to declare, charges that must be checked at the Land Registry and, sometimes, a registry description that does not match reality. A mistake here is paid twice: in a supplementary tax assessment and in a registry that returns the deed.

Debts of the deceased. If there are loans, guarantees or a mortgage, accepting outright can make you liable with your own assets. Acceptance under benefit of inventory exists for that, but it has deadlines and formalities. We cover it in inheriting debts and benefit of inventory.

Heirs outside Spain. Powers of attorney, apostilles, a foreigner identification number and a tax settlement that does not follow the usual route. This is the case where most do-it-yourself inheritances end up at a firm anyway, already late. We have a dedicated page: non-resident inheritance in the Valencia region.

No will. The declaration of heirs before a notary requires witnesses and documents, and the distribution is set by law, not by the family. Any doubt about who inherits should be settled before signing anything.

What a firm actually contributes

It is not "doing paperwork". It is setting the calendar so no deadline is missed; calculating the tax with the reductions and allowances that apply in the Valencia region; proposing a distribution everyone can sign; checking charges and descriptions before going to the notary; and answering the Registry or the tax office if anything is disputed. At Equus Capital, in selected cases we also advance the costs of taxes, notary and procedures so the family does not have to put money in before receiving the estate.

On what it costs, there is a separate article: how much a firm charges to handle an inheritance. What matters is that everything is agreed in writing before starting.

Comparison

Situation	On your own	With a firm
One heir, a will, no property	Feasible	Optional
One heir with the family home	Feasible with time	Advisable if there are charges
Two or more heirs	Risk of deadlock	Advisable
Several properties or in different provinces	High risk of error	Advisable
Debts or mortgages of the deceased	Risk to your own assets	Necessary
Non-resident heirs	Very difficult	Necessary
No will	Complex	Advisable
Cost	Taxes, notary and registry	The same plus the firm
Your time	Weeks of errands	Signatures and decisions

Frequently asked questions

Is it compulsory to hire a firm for an inheritance?

No. The law does not require it. What is compulsory is settling Inheritance Tax on time and, to register property, executing the deed before a notary.

Can the notary handle the whole inheritance?

The notary authorises the deed and, if there is no will, the declaration of heirs. The notary does not negotiate the split between heirs, does not calculate reductions and does not answer the tax office if there is an audit.

What happens if the Inheritance Tax deadline is missed?

Late-filing surcharges apply and, if the tax office contacts you before you file, a penalty. And until the tax is paid, the bank will not release the balances and the registry will not register the property.

Can I start on my own and ask for help later?

Yes, and it is common. Ideally before signing the acceptance or filing the tax, which are the two moments that are hard to undo.

Do you advance the costs of the inheritance?

In selected cases, yes: taxes, notary and procedures. It is assessed case by case at the first consultation, which is free.

Conclusion

If you are the only heir and the estate is simple, do it yourself, calmly and with the notary at hand. If there are several heirs, property, debts or someone living abroad, with a firm you stop the inheritance becoming a bigger problem than the loss itself.