Power of attorney in Spain

Power of attorney in Spain A power of attorney will allow someone to act on your behalf in Spain.

Having a power of attorney can be especially useful if you're still living outside Spain during the property purchase process.

How does power of attorney work in Spain?

Just as in the UK, you can authorise someone (normally your lawyer) to act on your behalf with regard to your legal matters in Spain. To do this, you'll need a power of attorney, which is a document that's signed in front of a notary that gives someone the power to act on your behalf. A power of attorney can be general or limited to one specific function (e.g. signing the deeds to your property on your behalf).

Why do you need a power of attorney in Spain?

It's often wise to obtain a power of attorney (generally a lawyer) during the house buying process, because travelling back and forth to Spain to sign documents during the buying process can be inconvenient (and expensive!) and could result in you missing an important deadline if there are travel disruptions, you have health issues or other commitments.

A qualified Spanish lawyer will be able to help you set up a power of attorney, and will advise the best type for you.

Can a UK power of attorney be used in Spain?

Power of attorney (POA) granted in the UK cannot be automatically used in Spain. Each country has its own laws and requirements regarding powers of attorney, and they are not universally recognized across borders. But if you do have a UK power of attorney and you want it to be valid in Spain, you will need to follow the appropriate procedures to have it recognized and accepted under Spanish law – an apostille and stamp from sworn translator to confirm it is a valid translation.

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