The Spanish legal system is a civil law system based on comprehensive legal codes and laws which has its roots in Roman law.

1. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEE THE BRITISH AND SPANISH LEGAL
SYSTEM
By Arcos & Lamers Asociados your leading law firm in Marbella.
We think it would be fair to say that in the UK you can get by without using the services
of us Lawyers, more than is possible in Spain. The Spanish legal system is a civil law
system based on comprehensive legal codes and laws which has its roots in Roman law.
Compared with the British legal system it’s more complicated and time consuming and
we do often see British clients who have got themselves into a mess; by assuming that
the system in Spain works as it does in the UK.
In practice very little works the same way in Spain and the longer you live here the
more you come to realise how different the laws and accountancy regulations are, as
indeed is almost every aspect of Spanish life.
What we also feel is often lacking here, is sound advice as to whether it really is worth
going to court over a dispute, bearing in mind the cost and the very slow and unwieldy
Spanish court system. In the UK you have your very efficient small claims court, where
the limit has now been increased to £10,000 in England and Wales. You can be in court
and have your claim settled in an acceptable period of time.
Unfortunately things are not so streamlined here in Spain and we don’t really have a lot
of efficient strong organisations that champion the consumer. In the UK you have your
excellent Watchdog programme, watched by millions, and one of the main reasons why
most companies take great care of their customers; the CEO really doesn’t want to be
sitting in front of Anne Robinson, watched by twenty million viewers.
In summary probably if you had to sum up our complicated Spanish laws, rules
regulations in one word, it would be hassle. What we always try to do for clients is to
take out all the mystery and put it into plain English.

2. Daily tasks that can often be easily resolved in your home country, by a visit to the local
office or a quick telephone call, can appear a lot more complicated in Spain. Sometimes
even speaking Spanish fluently does not make it any easier to go through the Spanish
bureaucracy. At Arcos & Lamers Asociados, all members of staff speak several
languages such as Spanish, English, Dutch, German and French. Your business is in
good hands at our firm in Marbella, Spanish property lawyers, accountants and tax
consultants in Marbella
www.arcos-lamersasociados.com
May 2014