The copia simple is a simplified version or extract of the official public deedThe escritura de propiedad or Title Deed is a legal document that transfers ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. It confirms who the legal owner is and under what conditions the... More of a property, summarising the key details of the purchase agreement. It includes information such as the buyer and seller, property description (square metres, address, cadastral reference), sale price, any encumbrancesEncumbrances (cargas in Spanish) on a property are limitations or obligations that restrict its value or use. You can check them by requesting an extract (nota simple) from the Land Registry (Registro... More, and so on.
While it does not have full legal validity, it is commonly used in procedures related to property transfers—such as applying for a mortgage, proving ownership, or other notarial procedures.
Only parties directly involved in the transaction (such as the owner, buyer, or heir) can request a copia simple.
It cannot be used to register a property at the Land RegistryThe Catastro is a public registry that records all real estate properties in Spain (homes, commercial premises, plots, etc.). It contains detailed information about each property, including the cadast... More (Registro de la Propiedad); for that, the authorised copy (copia autorizada) is required, which includes a legal signature, stamp, and full validity.
NB: This is not the same as the nota simpleThe nota simple is a document issued by the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad) that provides a summary of key information about a property, including the current owner, any charges or debts, and... More, which is a separate type of document used to check a property’s legal status.
