Power of Attorney Apostille

A power of attorney signed in the United States isn’t valid abroad until it is notarized and then apostilled. We handle both steps: our partner notaries meet with you online to notarize it, we get the apostille, and we ship the original to your lawyer or notary in the other country.

 

Most of our power of attorney clients are selling or buying property abroad, handling an estate, or managing a business or bank account in another country. Many are referred by their lawyer overseas, who drafts the document and sends it to us.

 

How it works

1. Your lawyer abroad sends us the power of attorney, or you send it yourself. If several people need to sign, tell us who and where they are.

2. You sign it online with a partner notary. The session runs on a secure audio and video signing platform. You’ll need a computer or phone with a camera, a valid photo ID and your own email address, since each signer gets their own link. Signers in different states can join separately.

3. We get the apostille. The apostille comes from the state where the notary is commissioned, not the state where you live, and we handle that filing.

4. We send you a scan of the apostilled document, so you and your lawyer can confirm everything is right.

5. We ship the original by FedEx Priority, shipping included, to your lawyer or notary anywhere in the world. You pay after the apostille is complete.

 

Each document needs its own apostille. A power of attorney and a trust certification, for example, are two apostilles.

 

Signing a power of attorney for Mexico? Read our step-by-step guide: How to Sign a Power of Attorney for Mexico from the US

 

Before you sign

• Use the exact text your lawyer abroad sent. Countries have specific requirements for what a power of attorney must say. Don’t edit it, and don’t sign it before the notary session.

• Confirm the receiving country accepts remote notarization. Most of our clients’ lawyers do, but we confirm with you before the session if there’s any doubt.

• Check names against your ID. The name on the document should match your passport or driver’s license exactly.

• Every signer needs their own email and ID. A spouse or co-owner can’t sign on someone else’s link.

 

Power of attorney apostille FAQ

Do I have to be in the same state as the notary?

No. Remote notarization works wherever you are in the US. Signers in different states can each join their own session.

 

Can the notarization be done over FaceTime or Zoom?

No. It has to take place on the secure signing platform our notaries use, which records the session and verifies your identity.

 

What if the document is in Spanish or another language?

That’s fine. Many of the powers of attorney we handle are bilingual, drafted by lawyers in Mexico and elsewhere. The notary’s certificate is in English.

 

How long does it take?

Notary sessions are usually available within a few days. Most state apostilles come back in 3 to 5 business days after notarization, then FedEx Priority delivers to most countries in a few days.

 

My country isn’t in the Hague Convention. What then?

You need authentication and embassy legalization instead of an apostille. See our embassy legalization page.