If you have property or a business in Spain, a Power of Attorney (POA) can be a great way to delegate responsibility. By means of a POA, your chosen attorney can perform certain actions and make decisions on your behalf. It’s particularly useful at times when it is difficult to travel from Canada to Spain to carry out your responsibilities. There are certain steps that you must take before a POA originating in Canada can be valid in Spain. Below are some things to do in order to prepare and attest your POA.
Draft the Power of Attorney
There are several types of Power of Attorneys that you could draft. Such as: a General POA, Special, Limited, Springing General, or Durable POA. With these, you can grant a trusted person with decision making rights regarding property, finances or medical care. You will need to fill out an appropriate form or draft a document with the aid of a legal advisor. Take sufficient time to determine the precise terms and conditions of the contract.
Swear your Power of Attorney
Two other adult witnesses and a notary public need to witness you signing your document. Any impartial and capable adult over the age of 18 can be your witness. Granted, they are not your spouse, child, or your attorney! In-person gatherings, however, are restricted for the better portion of 2021. There are paid online services where notary and witnessed signing can be completed as such. You should check with current provincial physical distancing measures and witnessing protocols in place to complete this step.
Have your POA Authenticated
After you sign and notarize your POA, you need to authenticate and legalize it. In order to complete the first of these two steps, your document will need to be submitted to Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in Ottawa. Completion of this step can be lengthy, often requiring over 20 business days to finish. Moreover, corrections to the authentication process can be expensive and further lengthen the process. To avoid process delays and additional charges, you can use a professional authentication and legalization service provider such as Legalization Service Centre located in Ottawa. You can contact LSC from anywhere in Canada, and we can properly guide you through the entire attestation process. Through our established network in GAC, we’re able to authenticate your document in as little as one business day.
Legalization at the Embassy of Spain in Canada
Following authentication, your POA and related documents will need to be legalized at the Spanish Embassy, conveniently located in both Ottawa and Toronto. The embassy will review your POA for GAC’s seal, and any standards needed for use in Spain. The guidelines at the embassy change regularly without notice and Legalization Service Centre keeps track of these changes to make the process of legalization smooth and hassle free. When you attest through us, we ensure that your document meets all of the necessary requirements before it even reaches the embassy.
Need Help?
Once the above steps are completed, your POA is good to use in Spain! However at Legalization Service Centre, we understand that preparing your POA can be a tedious task. We understand the caution and sensitivity of the matter and can help you complete the process of document preparation and attestation as efficiently as possible. Our goal is to help you move on to your next order of business as quickly and efficiently as you can!
Image Credit: AbacoAdvisers
