THE DIFFERENCE BETWEE THE BRITISH AND SPANISH LEGAL SYSTEM

By Arcos & Lamers Asociados your leading law firm in Marbella.

We think it would be fair to say that in the UK you can get by without using the services
of us Lawyers more than is !ossible in "!ain. #he "!anish legal system is a civil law
system based on com!rehensive legal codes and laws which has its roots in $oman law.
%om!ared with the British legal system it&s more com!licated and time consuming and
we do often see British clients who have got themselves into a mess' by assuming that
the system in "!ain works as it does in the UK.
(n !ractice very little works the same way in "!ain and the longer you live here the
more you come to realise how different the laws and accountancy regulations are as
indeed is almost every as!ect of "!anish life.
What we also feel is often lacking here is sound advice as to whether it really is worth
going to court over a dis!ute bearing in mind the cost and the very slow and unwieldy
"!anish court system. (n the UK you have your very efficient small claims court where
the limit has now been increased to )*++++ in ,ngland and Wales. -ou can be in court
and have your claim settled in an acce!table !eriod of time.
Unfortunately things are not so streamlined here in "!ain and we don&t really have a lot
of efficient strong organisations that cham!ion the consumer. (n the UK you have your
e.cellent Watchdog !rogramme watched by millions and one of the main reasons why
most com!anies take great care of their customers' the %,/ really doesn&t want to be
sitting in front of Anne $obinson watched by twenty million viewers.
(n summary !robably if you had to sum u! our com!licated "!anish laws rules
regulations in one word it would be hassle. What we always try to do for clients is to
take out all the mystery and !ut it into !lain ,nglish.
0aily tasks that can often be easily resolved in your home country by a visit to the local
office or a 1uick tele!hone call can a!!ear a lot more com!licated in "!ain. "ometimes
even s!eaking "!anish fluently does not make it any easier to go through the "!anish
bureaucracy. At Arcos & Lamers Asociados all members of staff s!eak several
languages such as "!anish ,nglish 0utch 2erman and 3rench. -our business is in
good hands at our firm in Marbella "!anish !ro!erty lawyers accountants and ta.
consultants in Marbella
www.arcos4lamersasociados.com
May 5+*6