Anyone living in Spain, Qs re Banks/inheritance laws

[AdoraBell]

Brief background, we're looking to move from Chile because OH is severely concerned about our DD's future as a foreign women in Latin America.

His main concerns are, losing anything we may leave to them. A lawyer has told him that if he should pop his clogs then anyone could come along and say

"well, Adora clearly can't afford the upkeep of the the house without a husband, so I'll take it off her hands".

Then there's the bank. They keep e-mailing OH to see if he wants to close my bank account because I don't keep a lot of money in it. We have a friend (another ex-pat) who is getting pretty hacked off with the bank calling him to authorise every single cheque his wife writes on her own bank account

So, does this sound like normal banking practice for Spain?

[AdoraBell]

Doh! Two DDs = two foreign women, not "a" women

[calypso2008]

So, does this sound like normal banking practice for Spain?

Ummm...no!

Inheritance law here is pretty straightforward and strict. 1/3 spouse, 1/3 divided between children, 1/3 your own choice, if no choice made goes to spouse and children.

[calypso2008]

I have my own bank account, it is MY bank account!

Things aren't too hot here though at the moment banking wise, I hasen to add!

[QuintessentialShadows]

My sisters friend is a Chilean woman living in Chile and she has suffered enormous hardship after her husband passed away. His mistress managed to lay a successful claim to his pension and his estate, due to some legal technicality.

She claimed that the marriage had been dead, and the only reason they were not divorced (my sisters friend from her husband) was because they could not afford it. This other woman therefore managed to usurp both the pension, the inheritance and the house. My sisters friend came to Spain where she is now renting and working as a cleaning lady, while the husbands mistress (she has no idea if she even was that) lives in her house and get her husbands pension.

It is not normal practice in Spain, where my sister lives.

[calypso2008]

That is so shocking ^

A lot of people from Chile live here, and Columbia.
It definitely would not happen here, no.

[AdoraBell]

That's all encouraging, thanks. Quint the only thing that surprises me about that situation is that a woman was able to do it. So sorry for your sister's friend.