Lawyers fees for taxes

We have recently purchased a house in Spain and the lawyer has set up direct debits to pay the electricity, water and community fees. They are wanting us to pay them 95€ + VAT each year as a legal care package to sort out any problems with bills and 105€ + VAT each year to calculate and submit our non resident tax.  This seems a lot of money to me,  are these things so difficult to manage in Spain that I would need their help or could I sort this out myself. I have thought about paying this for the first year to give me some guidance as I what needs to be paid when.  I would be grateful of any advice.

We know we must make a will and the lawyers are wanting us to do this through them, but is this necessary?

Utilities and community charges can be done by simply setting up a direct debit with the bank. No need to use a solicitor for this. The solicitor only gets involved if they are nominated fiscal reps and all the bills come to them for paying. Do it yourself including SUMA (local taxes) payments as well. Very easy just to set up the direct debits.

€105 a year to submit your non-res imputed tax return is also a bit high. I think we paid about 50 or 60 euro for the two of us. Non-res taxes aren't that difficult to do yourself once it's been set up.

We currently pay €140 a year between us for advice, full income tax returns and everything else you'd need a solicitor for.

Traceyc   We know we must make a will and the lawyers are wanting us to do this through them, but is this necessary?

Well it is of course most advisable but there is no MUST that one has to make a Will.

All Wills must be signed before a notary, that is so no matter who has drawn it up.

I have made a Will several times and I have helped my family do the same, never used a solicitor. Very straught forward, cost about 50 euros, at a notary's office..

Most Wills are very simple and in any case the notary will put you right in most cases. They use a pro-forma, which they call-up and amend.  Example:  I had forgotten to mention what I wanted, if we both died at the same time or my wife died before me.  The notary's clerk prompted me, as it is necessity to include that in the Will.

So,   "Very Simple"  and not expensive at 50€. Just make an appointment with a Notary.  Don't forget to take your original passport, it is the ONLY legal I.D. we Brits have.

PS  I was recently listening to a lawyer on the Radio.   He was talking about making Wills, but he did not mention, and for those who do not know, it is important,  in Spain the person inheriting pays the tax on what they are left, not the deceased's estate (as in UK).  And one cannot liquidate the asset (e.g. sell the house) to get the money to pay the tax

After Brussels IV, if you become resident in Spain and you still want  UK law to apply to your inheritance affairs, it is necessary, to make a Spanish will.

In rest of cases... it is, as Johnzx says just advisable