Nota simple: how to get and read one
A nota simple is an informative extract from the Spanish Land Registry. Use it to check the recorded owner, property description and registered charges before you sign or pay.
A matching owner name is only one check. Compare the property description and read every entry in the charges section as well.
What a nota simple shows
The extract brings together the main entries held by the Land Registry for the property. Its wording and layout can vary, so identify the function of each section instead of relying on its position on the page.
Use the document as part of the checks before a private contract or payment. An independent lawyer should compare it with the seller's details and the other documents for the transaction.
- The person or entity recorded as owner.
- The registered description of the property, including the recorded size where stated.
- Mortgages and other charges entered against the property.
Source: Registradores de España Land Registry extract terminology, checked October 2026.
Annotated example
This illustration is not a real nota simple and contains no property data. It shows where to focus when reading an extract.
| Section | What to compare | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Recorded name and seller details | Is the seller entitled to complete the sale? |
| Description | Property identity, use and recorded size | Does it match the home and its other documents? |
| Charges | Mortgage and other recorded entries | What must be cancelled, retained or investigated? |
Reading map based on the owner, description, size and mortgage fields specified for this guide. Checked October 2026.
Put the registry check in the full buying process
See where the nota simple fits before the private contract, deed and registration.
How to order a nota simple
Request the extract through Registradores de España. Use enough identifying information to select the correct property and review the order details before payment.
- Identify the property.Use the registry or property details available in the transaction documents. Do not choose an entry only because the address looks similar.
- Request the nota simple.Use the Registradores ordering service and state the legitimate reason requested by its form.
- Check the fee before paying.The supplied source material does not state the current ordering price, so no amount is quoted here. Confirm the amount displayed by Registradores at checkout. Ordering information checked October 2026.
- Read the issued extract.Match the owner, description and charges to the property and ask your lawyer about anything unclear or inconsistent.
A nota simple is an informative extract, not a substitute for legal due diligence. It also does not tell you the current mortgage balance merely because a mortgage entry appears.
Nota simple questions
Is a nota simple proof that the seller owns the property?
It is an informative Land Registry extract. Use it to identify the recorded owner and entries, then ask an independent lawyer to check the current position before you sign or pay.
Does a nota simple show a mortgage?
A mortgage recorded against the property can appear in the charges section. The entry must be read carefully because the extract alone does not confirm the current amount owed.
What if the property description does not match the home?
Do not assume the difference is harmless. Ask an independent lawyer to compare the registry description with the other property documents before you commit.