digital/property control issue, but the legal angle is slightly different because it involves access to jointly or personally used property, rather than just data deletion. Here’s how to think about it under Spanish law:
Situation Summary
- Your husband (or another party) changed security system codes without your consent.
- You were locked out of a system you previously had access to.
- The system is in their name, which complicates ownership, but the practical effect is loss of access and potential harm.
Legal Issues
- Unauthorized interference / obstruction
- Locking someone out of property, even in a marital context, can be considered interference with your rights of use, especially if you had prior access or shared responsibility.
- This can fall under “daños” (damage or obstruction) if it caused financial or practical harm.
- Property ownership vs. access
- Spanish courts distinguish legal ownership from practical rights of access.
- Even if the account or device is officially in their name, if you had:
- Joint usage agreements, or
- Shared responsibilities (e.g., paying bills, managing security)
…you may have a legal claim to restore access.
- Civil claim for costs
- If you had to replace the system, change codes, or pay for new installation because of being locked out, these are recoverable costs in civil court.
- Include receipts, invoices, and documentation of the problem.
- Evidence
- Timeline of events showing you were blocked
- Invoices / quotes for changing the system
- Any messages, emails, or notifications showing your attempts to regain access or that the change was intentional
Practical Steps
- Document everything
- Take screenshots of error messages, denied access, or notices
- Keep copies of emails/messages where the code change was mentioned or justified
- Retain all costs
- Installation invoices, service calls, replacement costs
- Any proof you acted in good faith to maintain the system
- Consider a civil claim
- Claim reimbursement for costs incurred due to unauthorized obstruction
- This can often be filed together with or separately from any other civil or family claim
- Optional criminal angle
- Usually minor, unless the lockout was intended as harassment or part of coercive control
- In context of domestic conflict, it can support a pattern of controlling behavior in family court
Key Takeaways
- Ownership of the system matters, but access rights and incurred costs can justify legal action.
- You should keep all evidence of the problem and the remedial actions.
- Filing a civil claim for damages/costs is reasonable and often straightforward if you have receipts and documentation.
