Power of Attorney Translation

Two routes for a power of attorney going abroad

Sign it at the destination country's consulate. Many consulates act as notaries for documents to be used in their country and can prepare the power of attorney in their own language from the start. There is then no US apostille and often no translation. For countries with consulates in New York or New Jersey, this is often the simplest route.

Sign it before a US notary. The document is notarized, then apostilled by the state that commissioned the notary (in New Jersey, the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services), then translated. If the destination country is not a party to the Apostille Convention, embassy legalization replaces the apostille. Our order of steps guide covers when the translation itself also has to be apostilled.

Who may translate it

Some countries accept a translation made in the US with a certificate of accuracy. Others require their own sworn or officially recognized translator, as many civil-law notaries do for documents used to sell or mortgage property. Ask the notary, bank or registry abroad before you order. If they need a local sworn translator, we can still handle the US side: the apostille, and an English working translation so you know what you are signing. See sworn vs. certified translation.

Special or general: say exactly what the agent may do

Civil-law countries distinguish a special power, limited to one act such as selling a named property, from a general one. Mexico's Federal Civil Code (article 2554) sets out three classic general powers: for lawsuits and collections, for acts of administration, and for acts of ownership. A Mexican notary reading a translated power of attorney looks for which of those it grants. The translation has to render the scope exactly as drafted, with the property description, the registry details and the agent's identification matching the records abroad character for character. We translate it precisely; drafting the scope is a job for a lawyer in the destination country.

Foreign powers of attorney used in the US

The reverse happens too: a relative abroad authorizes someone in the US to act for them with a bank, a court or a title company. The recipient needs a certified English translation, and will usually also want the original notarized and apostilled in the country where it was signed. We translate the whole document, including the foreign notary's certificate and the apostille.

Affidavits

Sworn statements follow the same pattern. A US affidavit for use abroad is notarized, apostilled and translated; a foreign affidavit filed with USCIS or a US court needs a full certified English translation, including the official's attestation and seals. Affidavits from people with personal knowledge are also what USCIS accepts when a birth or marriage record cannot be obtained (8 CFR 103.2(b)(2)).