POWER OF ATTORNEY · PANAMA
The right authority. For a defined purpose.
Authorise someone to handle a specific matter in Panama, with the scope and formalities checked before you sign. English-speaking support for residents, property owners and clients arranging matters from abroad.
01
Define the task
Tell us what needs to be done, who should act and which bank, authority or counterparty will receive the document.
02
Set the limits
Agree the permitted acts, any financial limits, duration and whether the representative may appoint someone else.
03
Complete the formalities
Confirm how and where to sign, what authentication is needed and whether a translation or original document must be delivered.
What do you need the power of attorney for?
A power of attorney authorises a representative to act on your behalf. The practical starting point is the transaction, not a generic template. We assess the wording and execution requirements for the intended use in Panama.
- Property: identify the property, the transaction and any limits on signing or receiving funds.
- Banking: confirm the bank’s requirements and which actions the representative may take. A power of attorney does not guarantee account opening or replace the bank’s checks.
- Business or administration: specify the documents, procedures and capacity in which the representative will act.
- Personal planning: explain whether you need help now or are planning for possible illness or incapacity. These purposes require separate legal assessment. Read our guide to incapacity planning in Panama.
Arranging a power of attorney from abroad
Tell us where you will sign and where the document will be used. Drafting and discussion can begin remotely; signing, notarisation, authentication, translation and delivery depend on the document and the receiving institution. Do not assume an emailed PDF or electronic signature will be sufficient.
Where the Apostille Convention applies, an apostille authenticates the origin of a public document. It does not validate the powers granted or confirm that the document is suitable for your transaction. A different legalisation route may apply in other circumstances.
Existing US, Canadian, UK or other foreign documents should be reviewed for their intended use in Panama. Familiar labels such as “durable” or “lasting” do not by themselves establish equivalent effect under Panamanian law.
From instructions to a usable document
- Initial review. Explain the task, deadline, signing country and intended recipient; share any existing document or required wording.
- Scope and quotation. Agree the legal work, powers, limits and formalities before drafting.
- Draft and review. Check names, identification details, the representative’s authority and the acts to be performed.
- Execution and delivery. Follow the agreed signing and authentication route, then arrange any translation, originals and submission requirements.
Fees and timing: request a case-specific quotation. Drafting, notarisation, apostille or legalisation, translation and courier costs should be distinguished. An initial draft is not the same as a document ready for use; timing depends on the required formalities and third parties.
Bring these details to your consultation
- The purpose, receiving institution and any deadline.
- Your signing country and the location of the relevant assets or transaction.
- The proposed representative, any substitute and the limits you want.
- Existing powers of attorney and any instructions from the bank, notary or authority.
Use the initial enquiry to describe the matter. Ask us how to provide identity documents and other confidential material before sending them.
Power of attorney in Panama: frequently asked questions
Some matters can be arranged while you are abroad. The signing country, type of transaction and recipient determine the formalities. Confirm the route before booking appointments or signing documents.
Do not assume so. Remote instructions and drafting are different from valid execution and acceptance. Notarisation, authentication, translation or original documents may still be needed.
The bank must confirm its requirements for the intended acts. Its forms, identity checks and approval process should be addressed before execution; acceptance is not guaranteed by drafting alone.
No. An apostille authenticates the origin of the public document, not its content or suitability for a particular transaction. Scope, execution and the applicable law still matter.
Do not rely on a standard transaction power of attorney for that purpose. Ask for a specific review of incapacity and succession planning under the applicable law. A power of attorney should not be treated as a substitute for a will.
Have the document and the relevant circumstances reviewed. The required form and notices to the representative, institutions or other parties must be established. Merely deleting your copy is not a reliable way to end the authority.
Discuss the authority you need
Panamanian legal advice and document work are provided by Karen Dorcy, Abogada (Republic of Panama), Idoneidad No. 10179. For matters involving another country, coordinate the Panamanian work with your adviser there.
For the broader picture, return to banking, powers of attorney and asset planning. See our bank account services for account-opening support.
Official references: HCCH Apostille Convention guidance; Embassy of Panama: document legalisation in the United States (country-specific guidance). General information, not individual legal advice. Updated 25 October 2026.