Words by Notable Notaries
A power of attorney is a legal document that grants authority to another person(s), known as the attorney(s) or agent(s), to act on behalf of the person signing the document, referred to as the grantor. The grantor can designate specific powers to the attorney(s), allowing them to manage certain affairs or make decisions on their behalf.
Common examples include powers of attorney for the sale or purchase of property abroad, dealing with tax authorities outside the UK, and mandates to receive or submit paperwork to foreign government bodies.
The power of attorney must be drafted by a legal professional from the recipient country. The grantor needs to sign in the presence of a notary public, also presenting their passport and a recent proof of address. The document must be signed and executed as a deed under English law; it then becomes legally binding, enabling the attorney to act on behalf of the grantor as specified in the document.
The final step is to obtain the apostille. To have the document apostilled, we need to first take the original to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), who issue and affix the apostille. An apostille is a sticker affixed to the underside of the notarial certificate, sealed and signed by an officer of the FCDO. This confirms the Notary’s seal, signature, and current practising status, validating the document for use abroad pursuant to the 1961 Hague Convention.
Words by Notable Notaries