What is a power of attorney?
It is a document signed before a notary that grants legal authority to a lawyer to act on your behalf, for example, when buying a property in Spain. In the long run, a power of attorney saves you time and money. These powers of attorney allow us to proceed with the transaction without you having to travel to Spain every time a signature is required.
A power of attorney is essential to be able to act on your behalf in Spain before any public body without needing to be present in every procedure.
The document granting a power of attorney must be clear and understandable. It should always be reviewed by a lawyer who can advise you throughout the process and explain any doubts you may have about the powers that can be included in the document.
Once all the powers you wish to include and their scope are clearly defined, the power of attorney granted can be very limited or very broad. But in either case, this power of attorney will include safeguards to protect you in the unlikely event of fraud and will ensure that your attorney does not receive more powers than necessary.
The powers you can grant in a power of attorney can include buying or selling in Spain, managing an inheritance, donations, declarations of construction, representing you in legal proceedings, opening or closing bank accounts, obtaining a NIE number, etc.
It is very important to have an NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) when buying a home in Spain, but don’t worry, we will take care of it for you quickly.
We offer a package including power of attorney, NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) and bank account to make this more convenient for you.
Throughout the entire purchase process, the power of attorney is also very useful to us so that once the property is acquired we can communicate with the supply companies for the change of ownership, direct debits for taxes, such as the IBI, the purchase tax (10% of the purchase price), or the tax of residents or non-residents.
Can powers of attorney be granted to more than one attorney at the same time?
You can grant powers of attorney to two or more people at the same time; for example, within the same company you can appoint several attorneys-in-fact. But they will all act under the mandate you have given them.
Can a power of attorney be cancelled?
If, once the entire purchase or sale process is complete, you wish to revoke the power of attorney, you may do so by sending a written notification to the attorney.
Where can I sign a power of attorney?
You can sign it in Spain, but you can also sign it in your home country. We will send you the valid Spanish version, translated into your language and into Spanish. Once you sign it in your country and obtain the Hague Apostille (an authentication certificate), you will send us the original notarized power of attorney by mail to our office. Once we receive it, we will inform you immediately, and from there we will begin processing your request and formally completing the process.
Contact us
Granting power of attorney to your lawyer now allows you to begin the process of obtaining your property, starting with securing your NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) and opening a bank account in Spain, giving you an advantage over less prepared buyers. Let us help you. Email us at torrevieja@solicitorsspain.com or call us at +34 608 458 587.
