Deadlines for Filing Lawsuits in Spain: Complete Guide by Procedure Type
All limitation and expiration periods for filing lawsuits in Spain: civil, labor, criminal, administrative, and family law.
Deadlines for Filing Lawsuits in Spain: Complete Guide
One of the most serious ( and irreversible ) mistakes a lawyer can make is missing a deadline. This guide compiles all relevant deadlines in the Spanish legal system, organized by jurisdiction.
1. Limitation vs. Expiration
| Characteristic | Limitation (Prescripción) | Expiration (Caducidad) |
|---|---|---|
| Interruption | Yes, restarts period | No (only suspension in some cases) |
| Ex officio | No (must be raised by party) | Yes (judge applies automatically) |
| Causes | Extrajudicial claim, debt acknowledgment, judicial action (Art. 1973 CC) | N/A |
2. Civil Jurisdiction
| Action | Period | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Personal actions (general) | 5 years | Art. 1964.2 CC |
| Real actions (movable) | 6 years | Art. 1962 CC |
| Real actions (immovable) | 30 years | Art. 1963 CC |
| Mortgage | 20 years | Art. 1964.1 CC |
| Non-contractual liability | 1 year | Art. 1968.2 CC |
| Professional fees | 3 years | Art. 1967.1 CC |
| Hidden defects | 6 months | Art. 1490 CC |
3. Labor Jurisdiction
| Action | Period | Type | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dismissal | 20 business days | Expiration | Art. 103.1 LRJS |
| Salary claim | 1 year | Limitation | Art. 59.1 ET |
| Substantial modification | 20 business days | Expiration | Art. 138.1 LRJS |
4. Criminal Jurisdiction
Limitation periods range from 1 year (minor offenses) to 20 years (penalties ≥15 years). Genocide, crimes against humanity, and terrorism with death are imprescriptible (Art. 131.4 CP).
5. Administrative Jurisdiction
| Action | Period | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal (express act) | 2 months | Art. 46.1 LJCA |
| Appeal (silence) | 6 months | Art. 46.1 LJCA |
| State liability | 1 year | Art. 67.1 LPACAP |
6. Computing Deadlines
Business days: Monday to Friday excluding holidays. August is non-business for civil procedural deadlines (Art. 183.1 LOPJ) but IS business for labor dismissal expiration (Art. 43.4 LRJS). If last day falls on non-business day, extended to next business day.
7. Consequences of Missing a Deadline
- Limitation: defense that must be raised by the opposing party
- Expiration: judge applies ex officio → automatic inadmissibility
- Professional liability: STS 918/2012 convicted for negligence in letting a dismissal action expire
How Lexiel Manages Deadlines
Lexiel's deadline management system automatically calculates business days discounting national, regional, and local holidays; sends multi-channel alerts; links deadlines to case files; visually distinguishes limitation from expiration; and covers all 19 autonomous communities.
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