Litigation Support in Spain for American and German Expats and Their Businesses

On Behalf of Urban Thier & Federer, P.A. | May 11, 2026 | Aachen, International Business Contracts, Munich, Spain |

Living and doing business in Spain is genuinely wonderful — until something goes wrong.

A partnership turns sour. An inheritance becomes contested. A divorce involves assets in three countries. A landlord refuses to return a deposit, or a developer walks away from a contract. These situations are stressful anywhere, but when they happen in a foreign country with an unfamiliar legal system, in a language that is not your own, they can feel overwhelming.

At Urban Thier & Federer, P.A., we work with American and German expats and their businesses across Spain to navigate exactly these situations. Our goal is not just to represent you in court — it is to help you understand what you are dealing with, make informed decisions, and reach the best possible outcome without more disruption to your life than necessary.

Spain’s Legal System Is Different — and That Matters

Many expats come to Spain expecting a legal process that resembles what they know at home. American clients, in particular, are often surprised by how differently Spanish courts function. Discovery is far more limited than in U.S. litigation. Procedure is heavily written rather than oral. Formal documentation — notarized, apostilled, properly translated — carries enormous weight, and missing a technical requirement can have real consequences.

German clients tend to feel more at home in a civil-law environment, but still encounter meaningful differences: inheritance law works differently, matrimonial property systems diverge in important ways, and court timelines can be slower and less predictable than in Germany.

None of this makes Spain a difficult place to pursue justice — but it does make experience essential. Knowing the procedural landscape, building the right local relationships, and understanding how Spanish courts actually function in practice is what separates effective cross-border litigation counsel from a well-meaning attorney who only knows one system.

Business Disputes

Spain attracts a remarkable range of international business activity — real estate investment, hospitality ventures, consulting companies, import/export operations, startups, and holding structures of every kind. Most of the time, these ventures run smoothly. When they do not, the disputes that emerge can be complex precisely because the businesses themselves span borders.

Shareholder disagreements, breach of contract claims, unpaid invoices, commercial lease conflicts, construction disputes, and partnership breakdowns are all common. For American and German business owners, these situations carry an added layer of complexity: contracts often involve multiple jurisdictions, counterparties may operate internationally, evidence may exist in different languages, and assets may be located outside Spain — which raises enforcement questions from the very beginning.

We help clients think through litigation strategy, evaluate settlement options, coordinate local experts, and manage the cross-border dimensions that a purely local firm might overlook. We also work with businesses proactively — drafting contracts designed to minimize future disputes, structuring shareholder agreements, and building in the kinds of protections that make a real difference if things go sideways later.

Inheritance and Probate Disputes

Inheritance conflicts involving foreign nationals in Spain have become increasingly common, and they tend to be among the most emotionally charged situations we encounter.

Many expats own Spanish real estate, investment accounts, vacation homes, or business interests — often without fully understanding how Spanish inheritance law will treat those assets when they pass. EU inheritance regulations add another layer of complexity by affecting which country’s law governs. And when a family member dies, the practical and procedural requirements of Spanish probate can feel overwhelming at exactly the wrong moment.

Disputes often arise around the validity of wills executed in multiple countries, conflicting claims between heirs, Spain’s forced-heirship rules (which can override intentions set out in a foreign will), property ownership conflicts, and the management of inherited assets across jurisdictions. Surviving spouses, stepchildren, and beneficiaries on different continents each bring their own expectations — and sometimes their own lawyers.

We help international families understand the landscape clearly, protect their interests in probate proceedings, and resolve disputes in a way that preserves family relationships wherever possible. And for those who want to plan ahead, we help structure estates before conflict arises — which is almost always a better outcome for everyone.

Family Law for International Families

Spain is home to a large number of international marriages, and when those marriages encounter difficulty, the legal complexity can be significant. Divorce, marital property disputes, child custody, cross-border support claims, relocation conflicts — all of these become more complicated when the parties hold different citizenships, maintain residences in different countries, and have assets spread across jurisdictions.

U.S. community-property assumptions do not map neatly onto European matrimonial-property systems. German concepts of asset separation or community of accrued gains interact with Spanish proceedings in ways that are not always intuitive. And when children are involved, questions of jurisdiction, enforcement, and international relocation can become deeply sensitive very quickly.

We work closely with clients on both litigation strategy and the practical realities of international family disputes — always with an eye toward what the outcome will actually mean for families and children, not just what is technically achievable in a Spanish court.

Beyond the Courtroom

It is worth saying clearly: many international disputes in Spain never go to court, and that is often the right result. Negotiation, mediation, and structured settlements can resolve conflicts more quickly, more privately, and at far less cost than prolonged litigation — and we pursue those paths when they genuinely serve our clients.

When matters do proceed toward formal proceedings, our role extends well beyond courtroom appearances. We coordinate local experts, manage communication between advisors in different countries, ensure that documentation meets Spanish formal requirements, and help clients understand what is happening and why at every stage of the process. International clients often find that having counsel who understands both the legal system and the cultural expectations of the parties involved makes an enormous practical difference.

Planning Ahead

Many of the disputes we handle could have been mitigated — or avoided entirely — with better planning on the front end. Shareholder agreements that clearly address exit scenarios, inheritance structures that account for Spanish forced-heirship rules, prenuptial agreements that are enforceable across jurisdictions, proper real estate due diligence before a purchase — these are the kinds of proactive steps that tend to look very wise in hindsight.

If you are building a life or a business in Spain, we are happy to talk about how to structure things from the start in a way that reduces legal risk rather than creates it.

Facing a Legal Dispute in Spain?

Cross-border legal matters require counsel that genuinely understands multiple legal systems — not just one. At Urban Thier & Federer, P.A., we bring together experience in U.S., German, and Spanish law to give American and German expats and their businesses the kind of integrated support that makes a real difference when the stakes are high.

If you are dealing with a business dispute, an inheritance conflict, a family law matter, or any other legal challenge in Spain, we welcome the conversation.

Contact Urban Thier & Federer, P.A. to discuss your situation and explore your options.