Escritura — Spanish Property Glossary

The escritura (escritura publica de compraventa) is the public deed of sale that formalises a property transaction in Spain. It is signed before a notary (notario) by both buyer and seller, or their legal representatives acting under power of attorney. The notary reads out the deed, verifies identities, confirms the legal status of the property, and witnesses the exchange of payment. Once signed, the escritura is submitted to the Land Registry for inscription, which is what gives the buyer full legal protection as the registered owner. The process at the notary typically takes one to two hours. Costs include notary fees (gastos notariales), Land Registry fees, and applicable taxes. The notary keeps the original deed (matriz) and issues authorised copies (copias autorizadas) to the parties. It is critical that the escritura accurately reflects the true purchase price, as under-declaring was once common but now carries severe penalties and can cause problems with future capital gains calculations. Your lawyer should review the draft escritura before the signing day.