Power of Attorney in Greece

What is a power of attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows one person (the “principal”) to authorize another person (the “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”) to make decisions and take actions on their behalf.

The power of attorney gives the attorney legal authority to act on behalf of the client in a broad or specific range of legal matters, which may include signing documents, managing financial accounts, making contractual decisions, or representing the client in court.

This delegation of authority allows the client to rely on his or her attorney’s expertise, whether for a single legal task, such as closing a real estate transaction, or for the broader management of financial or legal affairs.

Each type of power of attorney serves a different purpose and provides the attorney with varying levels of control to ensure that the principal’s interests are effectively represented and protected by the attorney in each authorized capacity.

Power of Attorney v Authorisation

While authority under a power of attorney is generally more comprehensive and is intended to give the lawyer legal standing to make decisions as if he or she were the client, an authorization (Εξουσιοδότηση or Eksousiodotisi), on the other hand, is a more limited, often informal, permission for the lawyer to perform a specific act or series of acts on behalf of the client. This may include retrieving documents, accessing specific information, or representing the client in a single transaction or meeting.

The Power of Attorney (Πληρεξούσιο) is often required for complex or ongoing matters, such as handling court cases, signing legally binding contracts, handling real estate transactions, or dealing with government agencies on behalf of the principal.

A power of attorney is more limited in scope and is often appropriate for one-time actions or tasks that don’t have significant legal implications. Unlike a power of attorney, it doesn’t give the attorney broad authority or the ability to make major decisions on behalf of the principal. Because it is less formal than a power of attorney, an authorization is easier to grant or revoke and does not provide the same level of authority or legal standing.

Power of Attorney in Greece

Signing a Power of Attorney in Greece is crucial if you want a lawyer to legally and effectively represent you in high-stakes or complex matters, especially if you do not live in the country and cannot be present, as many processes in Greece require in-person representation.

With a Power of Attorney, your attorney will be able to represent you in Greek courts, sign documents, conduct transactions, or deal with government or private institutions without you having to travel to Greece.

Signing a Power of Attorney in Greece is very common and is usually required for most legal matters.

You may need to sign a power of attorney with a lawyer in Greece for:

• Real Estate Transactions: Buying, selling, or managing property in Greece, including signing contracts, handling taxes, and having your Greek real estate lawyer complete registration with local authorities.
• Court Representation: Getting a lawyer to represent you in Greek courts for lawsuits, family law cases, or other legal proceedings.
• Handling bureaucratic procedures: To handle necessary dealings with Greek tax authorities (such as obtaining a tax identification number, or AFM), social security and other administrative offices on your behalf.
• Banking transactions: To authorize your attorney to open, manage or close bank accounts in Greece, especially useful if you are a non-resident or need to manage funds remotely.
• Inheritance and estate matters: To handle probate, inheritance, and any necessary legal actions regarding an inheritance, especially if you cannot be in Greece.
• Business and Corporate Representation: To allow your attorney to represent you in forming, managing or dissolving a business entity in Greece, including dealing with Greek corporate and tax regulations.
• Tax filing and financial matters: To enable your lawyer to file taxes, declarations and other financial obligations with the Greek authorities.
  Absence or Inability to Attend: If you are away from Greece or unable to travel, a power of attorney allows your attorney to handle matters that require your physical presence.
• Health care and medical decisions: Authorizing an attorney to represent your interests in health care matters, although this is less common and usually involves a health care professional or family member.
• Granting Temporary Authority: To give your lawyer temporary legal authority for specific actions, such as handling a particular transaction, completing one-time legal tasks, or meeting urgent deadlines in your absence.

Greek powers of attorney are usually specific in scope. While some countries allow for a very general power of attorney, in Greece the authority granted to the attorney must often be explicitly detailed. This specificity ensures that the attorney will act within precise, documented limits, which provides comfort to the principal.

Unlike many countries, a power of attorney in Greece often requires signing before a notary public, especially for real estate and certain high-value legal matters, to add a layer of formal verification to ensure the authenticity and enforceability of the document.

Documents to appoint a power of attorney in Greece

If you need to grant a power of attorney to our firm, you can rest assured that one of our representatives will guide you through the entire process.

We will draft the power of attorney to be clear and specific so that you know exactly what specific powers you are giving to your attorney, such as authority to handle real estate transactions, represent you in court, or handle financial matters.

Of course, you will also know exactly what documents we need to complete the power of attorney.

These typically include:

• A clear copy of a valid passport (for foreigners) or Greek identity card (for Greek citizens)
• Your Greek tax identification number
• Full name, father’s and mother’s names, date and place of birth, current address and occupation

In some cases, especially for non-residents, you may need to provide proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement, depending on the specifics of the power of attorney.