English-speaking property lawyers · Palma
Property lawyers in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera
Independent legal advice for international buyers, sellers and investors: villas, fincas, apartments and investment property. We check the law before your deposit is at risk and stay with you until the title is registered in your name.
- Independent: we act only for you
- Advice in English, Spanish and German
- All four Balearic Islands
- Remote purchases with power of attorney
Why you need an independent property lawyer in the Balearics
Spanish law does not oblige you to hire a lawyer. But in a typical purchase nobody else is paid to protect the buyer: the agent earns a commission on completion and the notary is a neutral official.
Problems hide between documents
Land Registry, Cadastre, licences and the advert rarely match. Read together, they reveal illegal extensions, debts and licences that do not cover the property.
The deposit is signed early
Reservation and arras contracts commit around 10% of the price within days, under terms that make it hard to recover. We review them before you sign.
Island planning is strict
Rustic land, coastal law and tourist rental licences decide what you can build, extend or let. Each island and each town hall has its own rules.
Taxes follow the property
Transfer tax, non-resident taxes, the 3% retention on sales and inheritance rules: planned in advance, they cost less and cause no surprises.
Property legal services in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera
From the first listing you send us to the registered title deed, for buyers, sellers and investors in all four islands.
Purchase due diligence
Title, charges, boundaries, licences, planning and the physical property checked before you commit any money.
Contracts & deposits
Reservation, arras and purchase contracts drafted around the buyer's risks, conditions and deadlines.
NIE & remote representation
NIE, powers of attorney and bank formalities so you can buy or sell without travelling to the islands.
Notary & Land Registry
Completion at the notary, payment control, taxes and follow-through until your title is registered.
Planning & rural property
Licences, rustic land, coastal law, legalisation and renovation questions for villas, fincas and townhouses.
Sales & non-residents
Seller preparation, contracts, the 3% retention, capital gains and completion for resident and non-resident owners.
Property tax & inheritance
Purchase taxes, non-resident annual tax, rental income, capital gains, plusvalía, wills and inheritance of Balearic property.
Investment & rental
Tourist licences, long-term letting, commercial assets, hotels and ownership structures for investors.
The four islands
Local legal guidance in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, each with its own planning and rental rules.
When to call a property lawyer today
Some moments in a purchase or sale cannot wait. If you are in one of them, speak to a lawyer before you sign or pay anything.
Call now: +34 680 464 800You have been sent a reservation or arras contract
This is where most buyers lose money. Have it reviewed before you sign.
You have found the villa or finca
Check licences, rustic land rules and debts before you commit.
The price depends on a rental licence
Confirm the licence exists, is transferable and covers the real capacity.
You are selling as a non-resident
Plan the 3% retention, capital gains and plusvalía before the deed.
How we handle your property purchase, step by step
- 1
First conversation
You send us the listing or the document you were asked to sign. We explain what needs checking and give you a written, fixed-scope quote.
- 2
Due diligence
Registry, Cadastre, licences, planning, debts and the physical property, connected and reported in writing in plain English.
- 3
Contracts and money
We negotiate the reservation, arras and purchase contract around your risks, conditions and deadlines, and control each payment.
- 4
Notary and registration
We attend the signing, pay the taxes and follow the deed through to the Land Registry until the title is in your name.
Property lawyers in all four Balearic Islands
Our office is in Palma, but we act for buyers and sellers in every island. Planning, coastal and rental rules change from one island, and one town hall, to the next.
Property lawyer in Mallorca
Palma, Andratx, Calvià, Sóller, Deià, Pollença, Alcúdia and Santanyí: villas, fincas, townhouses and apartments.
Learn moreProperty lawyer in Menorca
Maó, Ciutadella, Es Mercadal and Sant Lluís: protected landscapes, rural houses and tourist rental rules.
Learn moreProperty lawyer in Ibiza
Eivissa, Santa Eulària, Sant Josep and Sant Joan: villa due diligence and the strictest rental rules in the islands.
Learn moreProperty lawyer in Formentera
Limited supply, protected land and coastal law: careful checks before buying on the smallest island.
Learn moreWhy choose Castell.law as your property lawyer
We are the property practice of Castell Law & Investments, part of the Castell group of law firms in Palma de Mallorca, with more than twenty years of experience advising international clients on Balearic property.
Independent, on your side only
We take no commission from agents or sellers. Our fees do not depend on the sale going ahead, so bad news is reported, not softened.
Balearic specialists
Rustic land, coastal law, tourist licences and island taxes are our daily work, not an occasional file.
In your language, in writing
Advice in English, Spanish and German, with written reports you can share with your family, bank or adviser.
Remote when you need it
With a power of attorney we can complete your purchase or sale without you travelling to the islands.
Frequently asked questions about buying property in the Balearics
Before buying
Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Mallorca?
It is not compulsory, but without one nobody investigates the property and negotiates the contract in your exclusive interest. The agent usually works for the seller and the notary is neutral. Do I need a lawyer? ›
When should I instruct a property lawyer?
Before the reservation. The first documents agents present often commit a fee or around 10% of the price within days. Reservation and arras ›
Costs and taxes
What taxes do I pay when buying a resale property?
Mainly the Balearic transfer tax (ITP), plus notary, Land Registry and legal fees. New builds pay VAT and stamp duty instead. Purchase costs ›
What happens when a non-resident sells?
The buyer withholds 3% of the price on account of capital gains tax, and the seller must file the final return and the municipal plusvalía. Selling as a non-resident ›
About the firm
Can you complete the purchase if I am not in Spain?
Yes. With a power of attorney signed at a notary in your country or in Spain, we handle the NIE, bank, taxes and the notary signing for you. NIE and power of attorney ›
Do you work in Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera?
Yes. From our office in Palma we act for clients in all four islands, by phone, WhatsApp, email or video call. Contact ›
Legal guides for buying and selling property in the Balearics
Buying property in Spain as a foreigner: the 2026 legal guide
Read the guide Notary & Land RegistryThe conveyancing process in Spain, week by week
Read the guide Notary & Land RegistryLegal fees for buying property in Spain: how they work
Read the guide The four islandsBuying property in Mallorca: a legal guide for foreign buyers
Read the guide Contracts & depositsReservation and arras contracts in Mallorca: what buyers must check
Read the guide Property tax & inheritanceMallorca property purchase costs and taxes explained
Read the guide The four islandsBuying property in Palma de Mallorca: a legal guide for 2026
Read the guide Purchase due diligenceProperty scams and red flags when buying in Mallorca
Read the guide The four islandsBuying property in Ibiza: a legal guide for international buyers
Read the guideFound the property? Let us check the law
Call, WhatsApp or email us with the listing, the reservation document or your question. An English-speaking property lawyer will explain the legal position and the next step to take before your money is at risk.