Property Solicitors in Marbella
Buying or selling on the Golden Mile, in Nueva Andalucía, Sierra Blanca or a gated resort? We are independent English-speaking property lawyers who act only for you — full due diligence, contracts and completion on Marbella's high-value and off-plan market, in plain English.
A High-Value Market That Rewards Careful Lawyers
Marbella is not an ordinary place to buy. Prices on the Golden Mile, in Sierra Blanca and the best of Nueva Andalucía run well into seven figures, much of the stock is sold off-plan or through resort developers, and a large share of buyers are foreign and purchasing remotely. Each of those features raises the stakes on the legal side — a problem that would cost a few thousand euros elsewhere can cost a great deal more here.
We act only for the buyer or seller who instructs us — never for the agent or the developer — so the advice you receive is shaped by your interests alone. That independence is the whole point of a property lawyer, and it matters most in exactly the kind of fast-moving, high-value transactions Marbella is built on.
Due Diligence for a Marbella Purchase
Every purchase we handle is built on the same foundation: confirm what you are buying before any money is committed.
Title & ownership
The nota simple from the Land Registry, the chain of title, and confirmation the seller can sell — plus any charges, embargoes or old mortgages that must be cleared before completion.
Licences & planning
Building and first-occupation licences, the cédula, and whether any part of a villa — a pool house, an extension, a guest annexe — was built without permission and needs legalising.
Community & debts
For apartments and resort homes, the community of owners' accounts, any special levies, and confirmation that IBI, utilities and community fees are paid up to completion.
Off-plan protection
For new build, the developer's licences, the bank guarantee or insurance over your stage payments, and a contract reviewed before you sign rather than after.
Beachfront & coast
For frontline property, the Coastal Law (Ley de Costas) position — whether the home is affected by the public-domain line or a protection easement.
The right tax base
Modelling your real purchase tax against the valor de referencia, so the bill that lands after completion is one you have already planned for.
One Firm, Entirely on Your Side
From the first reservation through to the registered title in your name, you work with a named lawyer who keeps you informed at every stage and explains each document in plain English before you sign anything. We coordinate the notary, handle the tax filings, and register the property — and where you are abroad, we can complete the whole purchase for you under a Power of Attorney without you flying out.
We take no referral fees from agents or developers, and we quote our fee in writing before you commit, so there are no commission-driven surprises and no open-ended billing. Where a matter goes beyond a standard purchase, we will tell you what is involved and quote for it — extras may apply, but never without your say-so.
Selling Property in Marbella
We act for sellers as well as buyers. On a Marbella sale we prepare and review the contracts, gather the documents a serious buyer's lawyer will demand — licences, community certificates, energy certificate, proof that debts are clear — and manage completion at the notary so the sale does not stall at the last moment. For non-resident sellers we handle the 3% retention and the capital gains position, and we coordinate the cancellation of any existing mortgage. The smoother and better-documented a sale, the less room there is for a buyer to renegotiate or walk away late in the process.
Whether you are buying a villa on the Golden Mile, an apartment in a gated community, or an off-plan home in one of the new resort developments — or selling one — the starting point is the same: a short conversation about your situation, and a clear written quote before any work begins.
Related Property Services
Independent Lawyer for Buyers
Why your own lawyer — not the agent's — protects a Marbella purchase.
Spanish Wills
A Spanish will to sit alongside the property you own here.
Power of Attorney
Complete your Marbella purchase remotely, without flying out.
Off-Plan Property Purchase
Deposits, bank guarantees and developer contracts on new build.
Beachfront Property
The Coastal Law checks frontline Marbella homes need.
Property Legal Services
Our full range of property legal support across Spain.
Property Solicitors in Marbella — Your Questions
There is no legal requirement, but for a high-value Marbella purchase it is strongly advisable. An independent solicitor verifies the title, licences and debts, reviews every contract before you sign, and protects your deposit and stage payments. Using the agent's or developer's recommended lawyer creates a conflict of interest — they do not act for you.
Yes. We act only for the client who instructs us and take no referral fees from agents or developers. Our advice is shaped by your interests alone — which is exactly what you want when you are committing a large sum in a market where most parties are paid to close the deal.
Yes, and this is one of the areas where independent legal cover matters most. We check the developer's licences, confirm your stage payments are protected by a bank guarantee or insurance, review the developer's contract before you sign, and hold them to the completion terms. New build on the Costa del Sol is a common source of disputes that good legal work prevents.
Yes. With a Power of Attorney granted to our team, we can complete the entire purchase on your behalf — attending the notary, signing the deed, and registering the property in your name — without you needing to fly out. Many of our international buyers complete remotely.
The most frequent is unlicensed building work — a pool, basement, annexe or terrace enclosure added without a licence, which can need legalising. Others include undisclosed charges, boundary discrepancies, and complex ownership through companies. We catch these during due diligence, before you are committed.
We quote our fee in writing before you instruct us, based on the specific transaction, with no referral commissions and no hourly surprises. Third-party costs — notary, registry, taxes — are separate and paid to the relevant institutions. For anything beyond a standard purchase we will explain the scope and quote for it; extras may apply.
Yes. We prepare and review the sale contracts, assemble the documentation a buyer's lawyer will require, handle the 3% retention and capital gains position for non-resident sellers, coordinate any mortgage cancellation, and manage completion at the notary so the sale runs smoothly.
Frontline property needs an extra check against the Coastal Law (Ley de Costas). We confirm whether the home is affected by the maritime-terrestrial public domain or a protection easement, both of which can restrict ownership and use, before you commit.
Entirely. Our team is English-speaking and we explain every contract and document in plain English. You will never sign something in Spanish that has not been clearly explained to you first.
Yes. We act for buyers and sellers across the Costa del Sol and nationwide in Spain. Marbella is a particular focus given the volume of high-value and off-plan transactions, but the same independent service applies wherever you are buying.
Buying or Selling in Marbella?
Tell us about the property and your situation, and we will explain exactly how we would protect you — with a clear written quote before any work begins. Independent, English-speaking, acting only for you.
The information on this page is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Spanish property, tax and coastal legislation changes over time and varies by region and municipality. Always obtain advice on your specific property and circumstances before acting. Platinum Legal Spain is an independent English-speaking legal practice acting for property buyers and sellers in Marbella and across Spain.