A guide to power of attorney and euthanasia in Spain

Everything you need to know to plan ahead, protect your wishes, and understand the legal process in Spain

Many people don't realise that euthanasia has been legal in Spain since 2021. For ex-pats living in Spain, this means you have the legal right to make certain decisions about your own end-of-life care, including euthanasia, as long as specific conditions are met. However, exercising that right isn't as simple as just asking for it, it requires careful planning and clear documentation.

The most important document for this is a Health and Welfare Power of Attorney, also called an Advance Directive. It is basically a written set of instructions for your healthcare. It allows you to clearly explain what treatments you do or don't want, and it also lets you appoint a trusted representative to make decisions on your behalf if you are ever unable to do so yourself. Without this in place, your wishes might not be fully understood or respected, even under Spanish law.

A Financial Power of Attorney is equally important. This allows someone you trust to manage your finances if you become incapable of handling them yourself. They can pay bills, manage assets, or even unfreeze bank accounts if necessary. Together, these documents make sure that both your health and your financial matters are in safe hands, reducing stress for you and your loved ones during difficult times.

How the Process Works

Health and Welfare Power of Attorney: Once completed, this document must be registered at the Patient Services Desk (SAIP) of your local hospital within three months. Registration makes your wishes official and legally recognised.

Financial Power of Attorney: This must be notarised to take effect, giving your chosen representative the legal authority to manage your money and assets if you can't.

Why Getting Help Makes Sense

These documents can seem complicated, and getting them wrong can cause delays or even prevent your wishes from being legally recognised. Professional guidance can make the process much smoother, helping you understand what each document does, making sure all the details are correctly completed, and making sure deadlines like hospital registration and notarisation are met.

Specialists such as Thy Will Be Done are experienced in this area and can guide you through every step. They can help prepare, register, and notarise your documents, giving you confidence that everything is legally watertight. You can contact them by phone or via their website at thywill.es.

It's easy to put these matters off, but having them in place is a bit like having an insurance policy. You hope you never need it, but if the worst happens, you can be confident your wishes will be respected and your affairs managed properly. For expats in Spain, a Health and Welfare Power of Attorney and a Financial Power of Attorney are the clearest way to protect your rights, your dignity, and your peace of mind.

Thy Will Be Done
Tel: 865 756 058

Read also: 5 essential estate planning considerations for British expats in Spain from Thy Will Be Done

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Tel: 0034 865 756 058 (Spain)
Mobile: 0800 668 11 64 (UK)

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Helping British expats protect their assets in the UK and Spain

If you're looking for expert, affordable legal and financial guidance for planning your future and protecting your assets both in the UK and Spain, Thy Will Be Done offers a full range of estate planning and advisory services you can rely on.

 

Specialising in legal wills, powers of attorney, probate and financial planning, this trusted firm supports British residents and expats through some of the most important decisions of their lives. Whether you're preparing a will, setting up a trust or need support navigating inheritance tax or equity release, their friendly and highly qualified team is here to help.

 

Services include:

 

• UK and Spanish wills, including low-cost wills for parents with children under 18
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Property Trusts
• Probate services with low fees
• Pre-paid funeral plans in Spain with interest-free monthly payments
• Estate planning and inheritance advice
• Life insurance, pensions, investments, mortgages and equity release

 

Thy Will Be Done works in partnership with trusted legal and financial experts, including SRA-regulated solicitors in the UK and Spanish advisors fluent in English. Their team includes Director Paul Blackmoore, English-speaking Spanish solicitor Gabriel Padilla and financial advisor Chris Shaw.

 

Based in Spain and the UK, they also give back to the local community, donating €10 to charity for every new client in Spain.

 

“We truly believe that where there’s a Will – there’s a Way.”

 

Contact details

 

• Telephone: 0800 668 11 64 (UK)  /  0034 865 756 058 (Spain)
• Email: info@thywill.es
• Website: www.thywill.es