If you need to buy or sell your house in Spain but are unable to get there and need to give someone, say your lawyer, power of attorney from the UK you can do this. Below is a general guide on how to to obtain a Spanish POA.

 Go to a UK Notary Public Click here for a list of public notaries in the UK) who is able to provide you with this service and find out the cost of doing this (costs seem to vary widely so make sure you know what you will have to pay, it may be cheaper to come to Spain).

The notary will provide you with the appropriate forms and you can then draw up a draft power of attorney which you complete with your details and the details of the solicitor or other person who will act on your behalf. This draft has two columns, one in Spanish and one in English, and will be signed in the presence of the Notary Public, who will then send it to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order for it to be given a Hague Apostille stamp, which makes it legal in Spain.

Your power of attorney can be limited  to buying or selling your property and move funds from your bank account for one conveyance only or be more general and permit your lawyer or other person to do everything on your behalf.

Click here for a list of public notaries in the UK.

To find out more about the Hague Apostille click on the links below.

www.hcch.net and  http://www.apostille.org/