Powers of Attorney, Legalisation and Apostille

Powers of attorney for use abroad

A power of attorney lets someone act for you in another country: selling or managing property, representing you in court, dealing with a bank, running a company or handling an inheritance. Each country has its own requirements for form, content, language, signature and certification, and a document that is fine in England can be rejected abroad for a missing formality.

We draft powers of attorney that satisfy the destination country's rules (often working with a lawyer there), arrange execution before a solicitor or notary, organise a certified translation, and complete the legalisation. We regularly prepare powers of attorney for Ukraine, EU countries, China, Turkey, the UAE, India, Nigeria and the CIS countries.

For UK matters we also advise on lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and on general powers of attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 for business and property transactions.

Apostille and legalisation

Countries that have joined the Hague Apostille Convention accept a UK public document once the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has attached an apostille certificate confirming the signature or seal. Documents commonly apostilled include birth, marriage and death certificates, court documents, academic certificates, Companies House documents, HMRC letters and any document signed or certified by a UK solicitor or notary.

For countries outside the Convention (for example the UAE, China for some document types, and several African and Middle Eastern states), a further step of legalisation at the relevant embassy or consulate in London is needed after the apostille.

1. Check the requirement

   We confirm what the receiving authority needs: original or certified copy, translation, apostille, embassy legalisation, or a combination.

2. Prepare and certify

   Solicitor certification of copies, signatures and translations, or notarisation where the destination requires a notary.

3. Legalise

   Submission to the FCDO for the apostille (standard or premium service) and to the embassy where required, with tracked courier return.

Company documents and bank compliance

Overseas banks, registries and regulators often ask UK companies for legalised certificates of incorporation, certificates of good standing, board resolutions, articles and certified passport copies of directors. We prepare complete packs to the bank's or registry's specification, with apostilles and translations, so that account opening and subsidiary registration abroad are not delayed. See also company formation and UK business set-up.

Frequently asked questions