Need Power of Attorney Notarized for use in America - do I have to use the U.S. Embassy or can I use a local Notary Public? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Need Power of Attorney Notarized for use in America - do I have to use the U.S. Embassy or can I use a local Notary Public?

93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 June 2012 - 10:00

My husband and I need to sign a Power of Attorney to give my dad authority to sign on real estate documents for us back in the U.S. I checked with the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, and they charge 186 AED and you have to make an appointment. (sheesh was free at my bank in America! and they took walk ins!)

First question, does anyone know if we can both sign one POA and have it notarized or do we each have to have an appointment and sign separate documents?

Second, since we just need to sign before a Notary, could we use a local Notary Public instead? Has anyone done this before and do you know the cost and location?

Advice always appreciated!

774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 July 2012 - 10:05
Hello, Just an update to this post for any future readers - we ended up making only 1 appointment and went to the U.S. Consulate in Dubai to notarize a Power of Attorney and only paid one fee, 186 AED (equivalent of $50.00) because even though my husband and I both signed, we were signing the same document and were charged only 1 fee because it required only 1 notary stamp. FYI! That's the same thing we did in Dec for a real estate POA. Two signatures on the same page but one $50 USD fee. We asked some random stranger in the lobby to be our witness and it worked just fine. He was such a nice guy, even gave us his business card just in case there was a problem with his signature and the real estate brokerage company needed to contact him. LOL
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 July 2012 - 09:37
Actually I didn't realize this, but yes - if the Consulate sees a blank space for "Witness" signature, they want you to have a witness. However they were really easy about it and the Notary clerk just told me to grab a couple witnesses from the waiting room to sign, which I did. Apparently people do this all the time :)
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 July 2012 - 10:53
Did you have to bring a witness with you to sign ?
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 July 2012 - 16:51
Hello, Just an update to this post for any future readers - we ended up making only 1 appointment and went to the U.S. Consulate in Dubai to notarize a Power of Attorney and only paid one fee, 186 AED (equivalent of $50.00) because even though my husband and I both signed, we were signing the same document and were charged only 1 fee because it required only 1 notary stamp. FYI!
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 June 2012 - 10:32
oh noooo serioulsy?? I thought for sure that we could sign one and pay one fee! :( well thanks so much for replying and for the info and if anyone has had a different experience or ideas, do tell!
214
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 June 2012 - 10:19
Just did this at the US Consulate Office here in Dubai. We made two appointments; one each. We each signed our own POA. Paid two fees. It definitely is not a warm and fuzzy experience. In fact, I found it very cold, unfriendly and sterile. However, it was a fairly quick process once inside the "secured compound". Good luck to you. Our Attorney insisted it be signed under a US Notary at the US Embassy.
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY