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.
Cuba is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is not enough. The document goes through consular legalization instead: certification in Florida, authentication by the U.S. Department of State, and finally legalization at the Cuba consulate. It is a longer chain, and each step has its own fee and waiting time.
What it is used for
The requests I see most often from Florida:
- Property and housing matters.
- Inheritance and succession proceedings.
- Representation before Cuban offices in a specific procedure.
- Family formalities handled by a relative on the island.
Worth knowing about Cuba
Cuba is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. The chain is longer: notarization in Florida, certification by the state, authentication by the U.S. Department of State, and legalization at the Cuban consulate.
Each step has its own fee and its own waiting time, and the consulate sets requirements that change from time to time. Check them before you start, because the order cannot be rearranged afterwards.
Documents are normally expected in Spanish.
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 Cuba. 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 Cuba?
- It can be, once it has gone through consular legalization. Confirm the requirements with the Cuba consulate and with whoever will use the document 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.
- Can I just get an apostille?
- No. An apostille has no effect for Cuba, because it is not a party to the convention. The document needs consular legalization instead.
- How long does the whole chain take?
- Weeks rather than days, and it depends mostly on the federal step and the consulate. Start as early as you can.
- Do you handle the consular part?
- I notarize the document and explain the chain so nothing is done out of order. The consular step itself is between you and the consulate, which sets its own procedure.