The notaries of Catalonia have seen the signing of deeds linked to real estate activity (purchase, sale and mortgage) decrease since last summer, while the activity of documents of a social nature has increased, according to data from the Observatory prepared by the Notarial College of Catalonia .
Its vice dean, Raquel Iglesias, explained yesterday that last year the constitution of companies fell by 1%, and the constitution of mortgages (10%) and sales (45%), which instead are falling by 23% and 14%, respectively, in the first two months of the year.
On the other hand, last year marriages performed before a notary increased by 43%, the processing of marriage records by 149% and notarial divorces by 7%, although Iglesias recalled that these professionals can only process those that are by mutual agreement and without affected minors.
Catalan notaries are also experiencing a boom in the processing of advance directives documents (the so-called living will), which has increased by 49%, which Iglesias related to the approval of the euthanasia law, “good for people who ask that they be apply the measures provided by law or others that want to make it clear that they do not want them to be applied to them,” he added. Notaries have also registered a 9.4% increase in the granting of preventive powers (which appoint a representative in case of incapacity).
This upward trend has been maintained in the first two months of the year, with an increase of 26.5% in the processing of marriage records, 57% in the granting of living wills and 13% in that of preventive powers.
Catalonia is a pioneer in the state in signing this type of document, recalled Iglesias, partly because the Catalan Civil Code is very advanced in social matters. Thus, according to data from notaries, 61% of all advance directive documents in Spain were signed last year in Catalonia, as well as 49% of all preventive powers.
Last year, on the other hand, the granting of wills and the processing of inheritances decreased, which had risen in 2021 due to the impact of the pandemic. “Mortality increased, but also awareness of death and the need to prepare for it,” Iglesias acknowledged. Thus, processed inheritances fell 6.3% and wills, 1.7%.
Despite this, Catalonia continues to lead Spain in this area: 80% of Catalans die with a will, one of the highest percentages in Europe and higher than the Spanish average of 60%.
