August is the time when Spain switches to “summer mode”: most companies, institutions, and even government bodies either pause their operations or significantly reduce them.
Spaniards traditionally take their vacations in August, and this affects all areas of life — including the legal sector.
What should you know about how the legal system functions in August?
Courts – Closed
All of August in Spain is considered vacaciones judiciales — judicial holidays. During this time, cases are not heard, hearings are not held, and new documents are not accepted.
Exceptions apply only to urgent matters, such as arrests, deportations, or protection of minors.
Government Institutions – Limited Operations
Getting a cita previa (appointment) in August is a real challenge. Many employees are on vacation, and available slots for appointments are rare.
Notaries – Open, but With Reduced Hours
Most notaries don’t shut down completely, but the number of available appointments is limited. Some offices are open only a few days a week; others work all week but with reduced staff. We recommend scheduling your visit in advance.
Registries – Delays in Processing
🔹 Property Registry (Registro de la Propiedad)
🔹 Commercial Registry (Registro Mercantil)
Documents are accepted, but processing times are longer than usual.
Apostille – Possible, but Not Urgent
Document apostille services are available but without express processing. Due to staff vacations, processing takes longer than normal.
We Are Still Working! Our team of legal professionals continues to operate throughout August. We:
🔸 Provide legal consultations both online and offline
🔸 Work on ongoing client cases
🔸 Prepare documents, requests, applications, and declarations
🔸 Communicate with the functioning government bodies
🔸 Conduct case analysis and strategic legal planning
The only limitation – we do not handle court-related matters until the courts officially resume in September.
If you’re planning important legal actions, be mindful of August-specific delays and closures. We’re here to help, advise, and organize everything possible.
