Other matters

The contract or accepted quote, invoices and delivery notes, proof of payment, emails and messages with the other party and any demand letters sent. The more clearly it shows what was agreed, what was performed and what is owed, the better the claim can be assessed. If something is missing, we advise how to obtain it before taking any step.

It depends on the claim and the applicable law. Under the Civil Code, personal claims with no special time limit expire after five years (art. 1964.2) and claims for non-contractual damages after one year (art. 1968.2). If Catalan civil law applies, other periods apply (arts. 121-20 and 121-21 of the Civil Code of Catalonia), and road-traffic accidents have their own one-year period. A formal demand can interrupt the limitation period (art. 1973 of the Civil Code). Seek advice early so you do not lose rights.

Not always. Many claims are settled with a demand letter or negotiation. To sue in the civil courts you are usually required to have first tried an appropriate dispute-resolution method, such as negotiation or mediation (Organic Law 1/2025). If there is no agreement, the court is the route, and for documented debts the payment order procedure (monitorio) may be used.

It depends on the matter: the amount at stake, its complexity, whether negotiation is enough or litigation is needed, and the evidence required. We provide a written quote before starting so you know what is and is not included. How the first consultation works is explained when you request it.

In an uncontested divorce the spouses agree terms in a settlement agreement. The notarial route has statutory conditions: it is unavailable where there are non-emancipated minor children or adult children with court-ordered support measures assigned to their parents. Other adult or emancipated children may need to consent to measures affecting them. In a contested divorce there is no agreement and the judge decides. Legal assistance is required.

It is decided in the best interests of the children. In Catalonia, parents must submit a parenting plan setting out shared responsibilities, living arrangements and expenses (art. 233-9 of the Catalan Civil Code). If they do not agree, the judge decides based on each family's circumstances. Arrangements can be modified if circumstances change significantly.

Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates, ID or NIE, municipal registration certificate, recent payslips and tax returns, deeds to shared property, bank statements and details of shared debts. If there is already a draft agreement or prenuptial agreement, bring it. You do not need everything: after the first consultation we tell you what is missing.

It depends on the matter: whether there is agreement, whether there are children, assets or maintenance to determine, and whether it is handled before a notary or a court. We provide a written quote before starting so you know what is and is not included. How the first consultation works is explained when you request it.

The law distinguishes partial, total and absolute permanent disability and severe disability (gran incapacidad) (art. 194 of the General Social Security Act, LGSS). You apply to the National Social Security Institute (INSS), which assesses your medical condition and ability to work; the outcome depends on your limitations and occupation. Up-to-date medical reports are key. We analyse your case before the application is filed.

Read the decision: it states the possible appeals and their deadlines. Normally you must first file a prior administrative claim within 30 working days of notification (art. 71 LRJS) and then bring a claim before the social court within a further time limit. Keep the decision, the envelope and the date of receipt, and seek advice quickly.

Recent and follow-up medical reports, sick-leave and discharge forms, your employment history (vida laboral), contribution bases, your treatment and test history, and any INSS decisions you already hold. The more complete the history, the better the case can be assessed. If reports are missing, we guide you on how to request them.

The challenge procedure and time limit depend on who issued the discharge, how long the temporary incapacity has lasted and the applicable procedure, including territorial differences. Not every INSS discharge is challenged within four days or before the same body. Bring the decision and medical reports so the specific procedure and deadline can be checked promptly.

Attend with a lawyer. You have the right to be informed of the facts alleged against you, to legal assistance, not to testify against yourself and not to plead guilty (art. 24 of the Constitution and art. 118 of the Criminal Procedure Act, LECrim). It is unwise to give a statement without knowing the case file. If you are summoned, seek advice as soon as possible to prepare your defence.

You can report to the police or the duty court, providing the facts and any evidence you have. To take an active role in the proceedings as a private prosecutor you need a lawyer and a court agent (procurador) and must join the case, with time limits that depend on each stage. Keep medical reports, messages and any documents. We explain the options you have.

In general: investigation (the facts are investigated), the intermediate stage (a decision on whether there will be a trial) and the oral trial with a judgment, which can be appealed. Duration depends on the type of offence, the steps needed and the court's workload, so we cannot give fixed timeframes. We explain which stage you are in and the decisions ahead of you.

If you meet the requirements of the Free Legal Aid Act (Law 1/1996), you can apply for a legal-aid lawyer. A person who gives a statement as a detainee or suspect and does not appoint a lawyer is assigned one. If you prefer a lawyer of your choice, we provide a written quote before starting. How the first consultation works is explained when you request it.

For alzada and reposición appeals, the general time limit is one month for an express decision. Where there is no express decision, they may be filed at any time from the day after administrative silence takes effect, under articles 122 and 124 of Law 39/2015. The appropriate appeal, special rules and notification must be checked.

If the administration does not decide in time, the law sets the effect of silence: as a general rule positive in procedures started at the individual's request, with exceptions that make it negative (art. 24 of Law 39/2015). The maximum period to decide, unless the rules say otherwise, is three months. You can request a certificate of presumed decision. We review your case.

Yes, through state liability (responsabilidad patrimonial), if the damage is real, economically assessable, individual and a result of the operation of a public service, and you have no legal duty to bear it. The time limit is one year from the event, or from healing or the determination of lasting effects (art. 67 of Law 39/2015). Gather evidence from the start.

The complete notification showing the date of receipt, the file or any submissions made, evidence of the facts and any communication with the administration. The notification date is decisive because it sets the time limits. If you do not have the file, it can be requested. The sooner it is reviewed, the more options there are.

For an express decision exhausting the administrative route, the general time limit is two months from the day after notification. Administrative silence must not be treated as an express decision: in particular, a six-month automatic forfeiture period should not be asserted for negative silence. The procedure, effects of silence and applicable case law must be examined before calculating the deadline.

As a rule a lawyer is required, and also a court agent (procurador) except in cases the law exempts, such as representation by the lawyer personally in certain cases (art. 23 LJCA). Requirements vary with the court and the subject matter. We tell you what is needed in your specific case before the appeal is filed.

You can ask the judge for an interim suspension (art. 129 LJCA), who will consider, among other things, whether enforcement would defeat the legitimate purpose of the appeal and the interests at stake. It is not automatic. Ask early and justify the specific harm. It is studied case by case.

At first instance, costs are imposed on the party whose claims are dismissed, unless the judge finds serious doubts of fact or law (art. 139 LJCA), and they may be capped. Before appealing we assess this risk with you alongside the prospects of the appeal. We provide a written quote before starting.

Read it carefully: it states what is requested and the time limit to reply, which runs from notification. Do not ignore it or reply without reviewing the documentation, as what you provide can be used against you. Keep the envelope or electronic notification with its date. Seek advice early to prepare a well-documented reply.

Against a tax act you can file a request for reconsideration (reposición) or an economic-administrative claim, both within one month of notification (arts. 223 and 235 of the General Tax Act, LGT); they cannot be pursued simultaneously. After that, the administrative-court route remains. Choosing the right route and meeting the deadline is essential.

Yes, deferral or instalments can be requested when the debtor's economic and financial situation temporarily prevents payment on time (art. 65 LGT). A guarantee may be required and late-payment interest accrues. It is best to apply within the voluntary payment period to avoid surcharges. It is assessed case by case.

As a general rule, four years is the limitation period for the tax authority's right to assess and demand payment, and for your right to request refunds (art. 66 LGT). The period can be interrupted by the authority's actions, so simply counting years is not enough. If an old year is being claimed, or you think you are owed a refund, seek advice.

Ask for the reasons in writing and review the policy and its exclusions. You can complain to the insurer's customer service and, if unsatisfied, to the Directorate-General for Insurance and Pension Funds, or go to court. Keep photos, reports, invoices and all communications. We assess with you whether a claim is worthwhile.

You must notify the insurer within a maximum of seven days of learning of it, unless the policy allows a longer period, and use the means at your disposal to limit the consequences (arts. 16 and 17 of the Insurance Contract Act). Do it in writing or by a means that leaves a record. Late notice can lead to a claim for damages caused by the delay.

Actions arising from an insurance contract expire after two years for damage insurance and five years for personal insurance (art. 23 of the Insurance Contract Act). Time limits may vary with the type of claim and the party claimed against, so do not wait. Seek advice with the policy and the loss documentation.

Anyone who causes harm through an act or omission by fault or negligence must repair it (art. 1902 of the Civil Code), and their liability insurance may cover it within the policy limits. The injured party's claim generally expires after one year (art. 1968.2 of the Civil Code), although in Catalonia the three-year period of the Civil Code of Catalonia (art. 121-21.d) may apply; for road-traffic accidents the one-year period of art. 7 of Royal Legislative Decree 8/2004 applies. If you are sued, seek advice before admitting liability.

In arbitration, the parties agree that an arbitrator or arbitral tribunal will resolve their dispute with a binding award, instead of a judge (Arbitration Act 60/2003). It is private and more flexible in procedure, but has its own costs and judicial review is limited: an award can be set aside only on specific grounds (art. 41). It requires an arbitration agreement.

It is voluntary: a neutral mediator helps the parties find their own agreement (Mediation Act 5/2012). No one can impose a solution. If an agreement is reached, it can be formalised in a public deed and be enforceable (art. 25). In some disputes, trying an appropriate dispute-resolution method first is a requirement to sue.

An arbitration agreement obliges the parties to submit the matters it covers to arbitration, and prevents the courts from hearing the case if the defendant raises it through a declinatory objection (art. 11 of the Arbitration Act). Reviewing its scope, seat and applicable rules is key before acting. Seek advice early.

It often suits cases where you want to preserve the business relationship, keep matters confidential or resolve things quickly and with control. It is not always right: if urgent measures or a precedent are needed, or the other party will not negotiate, court may be better. We weigh the options with you without promising results.