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L & M Services - The agency that offers general assistance to the English-speaking community in Spain. Maintaining a close relationship with their clients and helping them in any situation where they may feel the language barrier is a problem.
L & M Services will accompany you to the hospital, doctor, police station, school, any private company or public organization, translating and offering their advice. Their Gestoria and Asesoria department will assist you with all your legal requirements, NIE numbers, residencies, health cards, will, taxes, conveyances, contracts and much more. L & M Services also have an excellent listing of reliable businesses at the disposal of their clients - builders, plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, cleaners etc.
L & M Services also offer a 24 hour emergency service so no matter what the time of day or night, you can be sure there is always someone to help you in any situation. L & M Services can also translate in French, German and Romanian.

Our offices are situated in the centre of Fuengirola, Calle Pintor Nogales No 3 - 1C (in front of Dunnes Stores) and we are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.

Tel/Fax: +34 952 460 403 or Mobile: +34 654 160 300 (24 hour service).

Email: LM@thesentinellamalaga.com

Legal Advice
Because of the high incidence of road accidents, fines for traffic offences are strictly enforced in Spain. It is compulsory for non-residents to pay the traffic fines on the spot. If the fine can’t be paid, the vehicle will be impounded. Normally there is a 30% discount for immediate settlement. If you want to dispute the charge you have 15 working days to file a written dispute. Under the Spanish judicial system, if a person is charged with any offence, he/she has to appear in court before a judge, in some cases before a jury. If the accused is found guilty, the judge will pass sentence, depending on the seriousness of the offence.
If you are involved in a car accident, there are certain things that you should do. If asked for a breathalyzer test, you should co-operate, refusal to do so is considered a criminal offence. If a second test is required, there must be 10 minutes between tests. You may compare the results of the breathalyzer test with a blood test. Pedestrians may also be required to take a breathalyzer test if they are involved in a car accident. If you are detained, you must be informed in a language that you understand and in detail of the nature and cause of the accusation against you. You must also either be released or brought before a judge within 24 hours from the arrest.
Hopefully you won't have anything to do with courts and judges in Spain, but just in case, remember that L & M Services now has a Spanish Lawyer at their offices in Fuengirola.

Retiring in Andalucia
Health is an important issue for anyone retiring to Andalucia. Many people are ill prepared for old age and the possibility of health problems. There's a dearth of welfare and home nursing services for the elderly in Spain, either state or private, and many foreigners who are no longer able to care for themselves are forced to return to their home countries. There are few state residential nursing homes in Spain and, aside from Cudeca hospice, there are few facilities for the terminally ill. However, overall the health care in Andalucia is extremely good and most of the larger hospitals also provide translators for foreigners, free of charge, to help explain their ailment to the medical professional.
Visitors to Andalucia should have health insurance if they aren't covered by a reciprocal arrangement from their own country's system. Among visitors and foreign residents to Andalucia, the most common health problems include sunburn and sunstroke, stomach problems, due to change in diet and water and various problems caused by excessive alcohol. The pollen count is also particularly high in this part of Spain around the month of May which affects asthma and hay fever sufferers.
On the plus side, the climate in Andalucia is therapeutic, particularly for sufferers of rheumatism and arthritis and those prone to bronchitis, colds and pneumonia. The slower pace of life plus the “siesta” is also beneficial for those prone to stress. The climate and lifestyle has a noticeable effect on mental health with fewer cases of depressions reported here.
When a pensioner from the European Union decides to move permanently to Spain, they should apply for form E-121 for themselves and their family members before leaving their home country. When arriving in Spain, they have to apply for the registration as a foreign pensioner living in Spain. They should take two copies of the form E-121 along with their ID/Passport to the local Social Security office. If they have not yet reached the condition of pensioner in their home country, or are employees working abroad or unemployed persons, they should ask for form E-106. On arrival, they should contact the closest Social Security office and have the form stamped.
In Spain prescribed medicine is free for all pensioners and for everyone else it is subsidized by 60%, the remaining 40% having to be paid by the user.

Funerals in Spain
“There is no cure for birth and death, save to enjoy the interval”, wrote the Spanish born philosopher, George Santayana. Death is one of the few constants of life that that can strike at any time and anywhere. People who lived in Spain and even those who come on vacation should be aware of the customs surrounding death here in Spain as well as some of the ways in which you can prepare for a death beforehand.
Funerals in Spain usually occur within 24hrs of the death. This period can be extended if the family wishes to wait for relatives to arrive from abroad. Once a death occurs in Spain, a certain, protocol must be followed. First, the proper authorities need to be informed. The Local Police, the Forensic Judge, and even the person's Physician should be informed of the death. Normally an autopsy is not required if the there is no doubt of the cause of death. There will be paperwork to obtain after the death of a loved one. The death certificate must be issued from the Civil Registry. You will need a number of original copies for things like insurance, tax purposes, pensions and bank accounts. Once you receive the death certificate, a burial licence will also be issued.
There are ways by which you can lower the level of stress your death causes upon your loved ones by pre-planning. It is the sensible way of making sure that your wishes are obeyed and that your family is not forced to make important decisions under duress. This is especially important when living in Spain where the culture of funerals might be different from what you are accustomed, and language might also be a barrier.
Pre-planning also offers a way by which you can protect yourself from the ever-increasing prices of funeral services.
A variety of different plans and a number of different payment methods mean that you can choose the funeral that suits you best and and pay for it in advance. Instalment options allow you to spread the cost out if you wish and once the premium is paid there is nothing else to pay for, your funeral will be carried out in accordance with your wishes, regardless of whether inflation has affected prices. Don't be afraid to make your funeral arrangements ahead of time. It is a sensible, loving decision that can help those you love get through their difficult loss with the least aggravation possible.

For more information email: LM@thesentinellamalaga.com