01 — independent · since 1989 · mojácar
An independent law firm in Mojácar serving foreign owners across Almería & the Levante coast — for property purchases, inheritance, planning and the Catastro & Land Registry problems that quietly trap so many homes here.
02 — practice
A focused property & inheritance practice — including the regularisation, AFO and Land-Registry problems that general firms tend to avoid.
Independent legal representation for international buyers and sellers across Almería: title due-diligence at the Registro de la Propiedad, NIE, the escritura de compraventa at the notary, post-completion registration, plusvalía and ITP tax filings.
Spanish wills, cross-border probate and inheritance-tax planning for foreign owners. We coordinate with executors abroad, manage the Spanish notary work and file the IHT return so heirs receive a clean, registered title.
Personalised legal support for expat owners facing real-estate and planning challenges in inland Andalucía — boundary disputes, undeclared extensions, illegally built additions, and disputes with previous owners or developers.
Spanish notarial conveyancing deeds, inheritance deeds, wills and powers of attorney — drafted, lodged and explained to you in English before you sign.
The Andalusian path back to a saleable title: securing an AFO (Asimilado a Fuera de Ordenación) and registered title for rural and irregular properties so they can be sold, mortgaged and connected to mains services.
Reconciling the Catastro and the Registro de la Propiedad when surface areas, boundaries or ownership records disagree — the most common quiet defect in expat-owned Almerían homes.
Action against abusive mortgage clauses, IRPH overcharges and unfair bank fees. We assess your file and run the claim against the lender, recovering refunds where the courts have already ruled them due.
Civil-court representation through our consultant network — across the Almería, Murcia, Málaga and Alicante jurisdictions — for cases that escalate beyond the notary and the registry.
03 — about
Vázquez Lawyers is the practice of Gerardo M. Vázquez — dual British and Spanish national, former Solicitor in the City of London, and a registered abogado with the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Almería. The firm has been advising international clients in Mojácar since 2003; Gerardo has been in practice since 1989.
The work is deliberately narrow: property, inheritance, planning and the regularisation problems they create. That focus is why foreign owners with broken Catastro records, half-finished AFOs, contested boundaries or inherited rural properties find their way here rather than to a general firm.
Gerardo has been called as an expert in the British law courts on matters of private international law. Day to day, his work is quieter: NIEs, due diligence, escrituras, Land-Registry filings, AFO files at the town hall — explained in plain English before anything is signed.
First admitted; trained and practised as a Solicitor in the City of London.
University of London — Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Practice relocates to Almería; admitted to the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Almería as an abogado.
A focused practice for foreign owners across Almería and the Levante coast, supported by a network of co-counsel in Murcia, Málaga and Alicante.
04 — plain english
If you own — or are about to own — a property in Andalucía, these are the words that appear on the paperwork that matters. We translate them in front of you before you sign anything.
Asimilado a Fuera de Ordenación. A formal recognition that an irregular rural building won't be demolished, so it can be registered, sold and connected to services.
The cadastral register — a tax-side record of land and buildings. Often disagrees with the Land Registry. Both need to match before a clean sale.
The Land Registry — the public record of ownership. What lenders, buyers and the notary actually rely on.
The signed and notarised public deed. The document that transfers ownership — drafted by the notary, agreed in advance by us.
Número de Identificación de Extranjero. The Spanish tax ID every foreign buyer needs. We apply for it on your behalf.
The municipal land-value tax. Paid on a sale or inheritance — calculated by the town hall, often misquoted.
Impuesto sobre Transmisiones Patrimoniales. Transfer tax on second-hand property — Andalucía rates apply, payable at completion.
The legal declaration that a building exists and is finished. Needed before lenders, buyers or insurers will properly recognise it.
A Spanish power authorising us to act for you. Lets us complete a purchase, file taxes or attend the notary without you flying out.
05 — co-counsel
Vázquez Lawyers is small on purpose. When a matter needs a specialist in another jurisdiction, we bring in a known co-counsel rather than refer you out and lose continuity. Five named lawyers, all publicly identifiable on their respective Colegios.
real estate consultant · albox
AEGAI member nº 3847. Awarded an MBE for services to the British community in Spain. Former President of AUAN (Abusos Urbanísticos Andalucía No), 2009–2020.
co-counsel · murcia
Murcia College of Lawyers. Master's in Urban & Real Estate Law, ENAE Business School. Former lecturer, University of Murcia and Catholic University San Antonio.
co-counsel · málaga
Málaga College of Lawyers. Civil, litigation, real estate, public-sector contracts and contentious-administrative law. Speaks English & French.
co-counsel · alicante
Elche College of Lawyers. Doctorate, Miguel Hernández University. Civil-litigation specialist; former first-instance and appeal-court judge for the province of Alicante.
co-counsel · litigation
Spanish abogado, 30+ years in practice. Criminal litigation (claimants and defendants) and contentious matters involving Spanish real-estate property.
06 — voices
Verified Google reviews, fetched at build time from the firm's Google Business Profile. The rating and count below mirror what's currently visible to anyone searching the firm on Google.
Really professional from start to finish very knowledgeable and always found a solution to a problem would recommend the services .
We wholeheartedly recommend Vazquez Lawyers. They helped us buy our dream home in Spain and made the whole process feel safe, smooth, and stress-free. They are extremely thorough and professional, they carefully check every property in detail, and if there is anything wrong legally or administratively, they will definitely find it and explain everything clearly. Their knowledge, honesty, and attention to detail gave us complete peace of mind throughout the purchase. The whole team was also incredibly kind, supportive, and always happy to answer our questions. We are truly grateful for all their help and would highly recommend them to anyone buying property in Spain.
Very knowledgeable, professional and efficient team. Always prepared to explain anything you don't understand in a patient way. They never tells you what you should or shouldn't do, instead they help explore different avenues with you and give the pros & cons of each, which made me feel safe and secure. I felt someone had my back at a time when I was confused and vulnerable. At the onset they lay out the costs involved but I was also advised that the figures could change. I was happy with that. I can't recommend them highly enough.
Gerard Vazquez is a professional, reliable & dedicated lawyer, who immerses himself in a problem and seeks to remedy situations others would prefer not to get involved with. My husband and I would trust Gerard in any jegal situation and cannot praise him highly enough.
We have used Vasquez lawyers on numerous occasions for different services. We would highly recommend for any property/land problems you may have. We personally think they are an outstanding team for both Spanish and English clients.
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07 — good to know
An AFO (Asimilado a Fuera de Ordenación) is a legal recognition that a property built outside planning rules won't be demolished, allowing it to be registered, sold and connected to services. Many rural homes in Almería need one. We assess your file, gather the surveys and represent you before the town hall and Land Registry through to issuance.
Yes — and this is one of the most common problems we resolve. We coordinate the surveyor, file the corrections at the Catastro and at the Registro de la Propiedad, and produce a single accurate title that lenders, notaries and future buyers will accept.
Yes. With a power of attorney we complete NIE applications, conduct due diligence at the Land Registry, attend the notary for the escritura, and file the post-completion tax and registration paperwork on your behalf — without you needing to travel.
Yes. Gerardo M. Vázquez is registered as a Spanish lawyer (abogado) with the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Almería. He holds dual British and Spanish nationality and previously practised as a Solicitor in the City of London.
The Mojácar office sees clients by appointment. Phone is answered 10:00–14:00. We also offer video consultations — useful for owners abroad or for matters that don't need an in-person meeting to get going.
All client information is held confidentially and in full compliance with Spanish and EU GDPR rules. The detail is in our privacy policy.
08 — get in touch
Tell us a little about the property, the file or the situation. We'll reply within one business day, in English, with a clear next step and a sense of cost.