A nota simple is a legal document you will often hear in Spain. In this short post we give a brief outline on what it is and why it is so useful. It’s important for a host of reasons and applies to a large number of cases.
Simply put, it is one of the most important documents used in the Spanish property conveyancing process.
Definition
A nota simple is an official land registry report that gives a brief property description, it’s boundaries, ownership details, and if there are any charges or liens against it.
When is a nota simple required?
- Buying property.
- Selling property.
- Letting property.
- Applying for a mortgage loan.
- Asset-hunting.
- Matrimonial proceedings.
- Inheritance proceedings.
- Debt recovery.
- Law Enforcement Agencies seeking ill-gotten assets in Spain.
- Private detectives.
What information can be found in a nota simple?
- Current ownership.
- Type of ownership (freehold, leasehold, rustic, urban, VPO, etc.)
- General property description.
- Boundaries.
- Charges, debts, easements, or encumbrances.
- Other.
Who needs a nota simple?
- Matrimonial proceedings: tracing Spanish property ownership of an opponent party.
- Inheritance proceedings: tracing Spanish assets of a deceased.
- Debt recovery: trace assets in Spain belonging to individuals or companies, seize them legally (separate legal service applies, ask us).
- Buying, selling, or renting property in Spain: Find out if a property has charges, liens, encumbrances, long term tenants, if the vendor is who he really says he is (avoid sale or rental scams), if a property is classified as rural or urban, if it has legal proceedings against it under way, embargoed, outstanding taxes, outstanding community fees, legal limitations, etc.
- Loan applications: if you are applying for a (mortgage) loan on a property you will be asked for an updated nota simple.
At LNA, we offer a legal service to procure you a nota simple of any property located in Spain within 24 working hours, for a very competitive fee. We also offer to translate it, for an additional fee.
Source: Idealista.
