Notario (Notary) — Spanish Property Glossary

A notario in Spain is a public official authorised by the state to authenticate legal documents and transactions. In property purchases, the notary oversees the signing of the escritura, verifies the identities of all parties, checks that the property is free of undisclosed charges, and ensures taxes and fees are correctly addressed. Unlike in some countries, Spanish notaries are impartial and do not represent either the buyer or the seller. The buyer has the right to choose which notary to use. Notary fees are regulated by the Spanish government and are based on a sliding scale related to the property price, typically ranging from 600 to 1,500 EUR. The notary also handles anti-money-laundering checks and reports the transaction to the tax authorities. While the notary provides important legal safeguards, they do not replace the role of an independent lawyer. Buyers should always have their own abogado (lawyer) review contracts and conduct due diligence, as the notary's role is limited to the formal aspects of the transaction.