A lawyerat your wedding
The part nobody sees, and the part that protects you most.
Tell me your storyMost wedding planners can recommend a good photographer. Very few can tell you what happens to your deposit if the venue changes hands, or what you've really agreed to in a clause written in Spanish, under Spanish law.
I can, because I'm a lawyer in Spain. And it's part of what I do for every couple.
Is a pile of contracts
Venue, caterer, photographer, band, florist, transport: all in Spanish and all under Spanish law. Each with its own deposit, deadlines and cancellation clause. I read every one before you sign, and I explain it to you in plain English.
Every contract reviewed
What it says, what's missing and what should change, before you sign anything.
The language of the contract
What you sign is the Spanish text. I translate the parts that matter and tell you what they really mean.
Deposits and payments
Clear terms, a schedule you can follow and an invoice for every payment.
VAT and what's included
Whether prices include IVA, Spanish VAT, and at which rate, so the final bill matches the quote.
Changes and cancellations
What happens if the date moves, if numbers change or if a supplier lets you down.
Prenuptial agreement
Included if you'd like one, drafted calmly and in good time. Its scope depends on your circumstances and is advised case by case.
Signing alone, or with a lawyer
Trusting the brochure
- A contract in Spanish you can't fully read
- A deposit whose legal meaning you don't know
- VAT discovered on the final invoice
- Cancellation terms read for the first time when you need them
- Changes agreed by email, with nothing signed
- Nobody on your side if something goes wrong
Knowing what you sign
- Every clause explained in plain English
- Deposit terms that say what you think they say
- Prices checked for IVA before you agree
- Cancellation and date changes negotiated up front
- Every change confirmed in writing
- A lawyer in Spain who knows your file
A deposit isn't always just a deposit
In Spain, a deposit can mean different things legally. Depending on how the contract words it, it is either simply an advance on the price, or a way for either side to walk away at a cost.
Most couples never notice the difference until something goes wrong. I make sure the wording says what you think it says.
Four steps, in plain English
You send it
Forward me the quote or the contract as soon as you receive it.
I read it
Every clause, against what was promised and what's normal in Spain.
A clear summary
What it means, the risks and exactly what to ask for, in English.
I negotiate
I talk to the supplier in Spanish and confirm every change in writing.
Calmly, and in good time
Not romantic, perhaps, but sensible, and far easier months before the wedding than the week before. If you'd like one, it's included. What it can cover depends on where you marry, where you live and your circumstances, so I advise you case by case.
Enjoy it, because it's all in hand
The romance is easier to enjoy when the serious part is sorted. The only surprise on the day should be the one we planned.
All legal work is signed off by Scarlett as a lawyer.
About the legal side
Is the contract review included?
Yes, with full planning: every supplier contract. With a consultation, one contract is reviewed per session. See Services.
Are you a lawyer in the UK?
No. I'm a lawyer in Spain, so I advise on Spanish contracts and Spanish law, which is what your wedding suppliers work under. For questions of UK law, you'd ask a UK solicitor.
Can you review a contract we've already signed?
Yes. I'll tell you where you stand, what you've agreed to and what can still be improved.
Do you deal with the suppliers directly?
Yes, in Spanish, and every change we agree is confirmed in writing.
What about the legal side of the marriage itself?
If you both live in the UK, the ceremony in Spain is symbolic and the legal part is done at home. See Getting married in Spain.
“The romance is yours.
The small print is mine.”
Scarlett
