A power of attorney (POA) or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. The person authorizing the other to act is the principal, grantor, or donor (of the power). The one authorized to act is the agent or, in some common law jurisdictions, the attorney-in-fact (attorney for short). (wikipedia)
In Spain a POA usually is signed in front of a public notary, although a POA signed in a Spanish embassy has the same validity. Also I often use POA signed in front of a foreign notary. In order to use this document in Spanish territory it should be translated in Spanish by an official translator, or – what I often do – be made up in the original language and in Spanish (in two columns), apart from that in order to be able to use it in Spain it must carry a so-called “Apostille of the Hague”. In a later post I will come back on the matter of the “apostilles of the Hague” as these are used quite a lot.
