Guide
Power of Attorney for Property Purchases
Buyers who cannot travel for each stage of a transaction often grant a power of attorney so that specific steps can be completed on their behalf.
The scope of the document matters: it can be drafted narrowly for a single transaction or more broadly. It can also be used to authorise someone to handle related tasks such as opening a bank account or signing the deed before a notary.
Granting Power of Attorney From Abroad
Buyers who are not resident in Spain can typically grant power of attorney through a notary in their own country, after which the document is usually apostilled and, where necessary, translated before it can be used in Spain. This allows steps such as signing contracts or completing before a Spanish notary to take place without the buyer travelling for each stage.
What Buyers Commonly Ask to Limit
- The specific transaction the power of attorney applies to, rather than general authority
- A defined time period after which it expires
- Which specific actions are covered — for example, signing a purchase contract but not authorising payments beyond an agreed amount
A common use case is applying for a NIE number, which a lawyer or gestor can often arrange on a buyer's behalf without them attending in person.
A power of attorney can usually be revoked if circumstances change, though the process for doing so depends on how and where it was granted.
Because a power of attorney can be used to sign on your behalf, it's worth verifying any POA independently — particularly one signed abroad — through the notary or your own independent lawyer before relying on it. See How to Avoid Property Lawyer Scams in Marbella for the broader checks that apply before you trust anyone with your signature.
This is particularly relevant for buyers purchasing from abroad, since it often removes the need to travel for signing at each stage, including completion.
Reviewed by María Fernández López
Spanish Property Lawyer · 12+ Years Experience
Reviewed:
María Fernández López is a Spanish property lawyer with over 12 years of experience in real estate transactions on the Costa del Sol. She reviews guide content on this site for legal accuracy but does not represent Property Lawyer Marbella as a law firm and is not responsible for legal advice provided by independent law firms listed in the directory.
This page is general information about property law topics in Marbella. It is not legal advice, and Property Lawyer Marbella is not a law firm.