The power of attorney (procuração) is what lets an heir abroad run an entire Portuguese estate remotely: heirs' deed, division, sale, registrations and tax filings can all be executed by a representative in Portugal while you stay home.
Three ways to grant a valid one
- A Portuguese consulate in your country — the classic route: consuls hold notarial powers and the document is directly valid in Portugal (Newark, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, London…);
- Local notary + apostille (Hague Convention) — signed before your notary, apostilled by the competent authority, with a certified translation if not bilingual;
- Portuguese notary by videoconference — possible for certain deeds with a qualified electronic signature.
The powers to spell out
Accept the inheritance, execute the heirs' deed, file with the tax office, divide, sell (with or without a minimum price), receive and give discharge, register, delegate. Note: for a sale, Portuguese notaries require explicit special powers — a generic power of attorney will be refused at signing day.
Common mistakes
- Names that differ between your documents and the Portuguese records (married names, anglicised spellings) — reconcile them in the deed;
- Missing apostille — the document is unusable;
- Grantor without a Portuguese NIF;
- Stale powers of attorney by the time of the sale.
Cost and timing
Consulates: moderate fees but appointments can take weeks in high season. Local notary + apostille: faster, variable cost, plus translation. HERDA supplies bilingual drafts reviewed by partner lawyers and the exact procedure for your nearest consulate.