Official letters
What it is, how long you have and what you can do
The official letters people in Spain receive most often, explained in plain words with the law in front of you: every quotation exactly as it appears in the BOE, Spain's Official Gazette, in Spanish.
- I've received a traffic fine
You have twenty calendar days to decide: pay half the fine or submit a defence (alegaciones). - I've been given a dismissal letter
You have twenty working days to challenge it, and the clock stops when you file the conciliation request (papeleta de conciliación). - My landlord won't return my deposit
Once a month has passed since you handed back the keys, any part of the deposit not returned earns interest. - My wages are going to be seized
The part that does not exceed the national minimum wage cannot be seized; the rest is seized in bands. - A relative has died without a will
The descendants inherit first, and the children in equal shares. The surviving spouse has rights of their own. - I've been sued for not paying my rent
From the court's demand you have ten days: pay everything you owe to stop the eviction, leave, or oppose it. - The Tax Agency has sent me an enforcement order
It is the providencia de apremio. If you pay within the period it states, the surcharge is 10 %; if not, 20 %. - I've received a court demand for payment
It is a payment order procedure (proceso monitorio): you have twenty days to pay or to oppose it in writing. If you do neither, the creditor can ask for enforcement. - I've received a request from the Tax Agency
If the Tax Agency asks you for documents, you have at least ten days from the day after you receive the letter. If you cannot make it, you can ask for more time before the last three days. - I've been asked to identify the driver
As the vehicle's registered keeper you must say who was driving when the offence was committed. If you fail to do so when required, the fine for not identifying them is double or triple the original. - I've been served with a lawsuit
You have ten days to reply in writing if it is a verbal trial (juicio verbal) and twenty if it is an ordinary trial (juicio ordinario). They are working days: weekends, public holidays, 24 December to 6 January and August do not count. - Social Security is claiming a debt from me
If contributions were not paid on time, the Social Security Treasury (Tesorería) claims them with a surcharge of 10, 20 or 35 per cent, depending on when they are paid and whether their settlement was submitted on time. If the claim is not paid either, an enforcement order follows, which allows seizure.