How it works from Florida
You sign the power of attorney in front of me, online or in person. I verify your identity, witness the signature and complete the notarial certificate.
Because Colombia is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, the notarized document then needs an apostille from the Florida Department of State. That single certificate is what makes it acceptable there — no consulate visit required.
What it is used for
The requests I see most often from Florida:
- Buying or selling property, and signing before a Colombian notary.
- Inheritance and succession proceedings.
- Bank, pension and tax formalities.
- Representation in a specific administrative procedure.
- Company matters and shareholder representation.
Worth knowing about Colombia
Colombia is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the Florida apostille is what the document needs.
Colombian consulates in the United States also grant powers of attorney directly. Sometimes that is the better route and sometimes an appointment is weeks away; signing here with an apostille is the alternative that does not depend on their calendar.
Colombian notaries are strict about the powers being listed specifically. A vague power tends to come back, so get the wording from the notary who will use it.
What you need
- The power of attorney, written and unsigned. Whoever will use it there — a notary, a lawyer, a registry — usually provides the wording.
- A current, government-issued photo ID.
- The full legal name and identification number of the person who will act for you.
- Enough time: the notarization is minutes, the legalization is not.
What I cannot do
I cannot write the power of attorney, tell you which powers to include, or confirm that it will be accepted in Colombia. Those answers come from the notary, lawyer or office that will receive it. My part is that the signature and the certificate are correct, and that the document leaves Florida in the right shape.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a power of attorney signed in the United States valid in Colombia?
- It generally is, once it carries a Florida apostille and meets whatever wording the receiving office requires. Confirm the wording with them before you sign.
- Can I sign it online?
- Yes. A remote online session works from anywhere in Florida, from another state, or from abroad. The apostille or legalization afterwards is still a paper process.
- Can the document be in Spanish?
- Yes. The document may be in Spanish; the notarial certificate I complete goes in English, as Florida requires. Some offices also ask for a translation, and I can prepare English–Spanish translations.
- Consulate or Florida notary — which is better?
- Whichever is faster for you, as both routes are accepted. The consulate issues the document directly; signing here means an apostille afterwards, and no waiting for an appointment.
- Does the power need to list specific powers?
- In practice, yes. Colombian notaries and registries usually expect each faculty to be spelled out. Ask the receiving office for the wording.