Gestoría vs lawyer — which do I need to buy in Spain?
A gestoría handles the administrative paperwork of a purchase (filing taxes, registering the deed, utilities) for a small fixed fee, while an independent lawyer (abogado) runs the legal due diligence and represents only you — they do different jobs, and many foreign buyers use both.
| Gestoría | Lawyer (abogado) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main role | Admin & forms | Legal due diligence + representation |
| Acts for | The process (neutral) | You alone |
| Checks registry & contract? | No | Yes |
| Typical cost | Modest, fixed | ≈ 1% or a fixed fee |
| For a foreign buyer | Convenient, optional | Strongly advisable |
The notary authenticates the deed but acts for neither side and won't run your due diligence — that's the lawyer's job.
Choose your own lawyer, not one recommended by the seller or agent, so their duty is to you.
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Related
Sources: Consejo General del Notariado — notariado.org.
Last reviewed June 2026.