How do you say power of attorney in Spanish?

Power of attorney is poder notarial (formal, notarized) or carta poder (Mexico, simpler authorizations). The person who receives the power is the apoderado or mandatario. The grantor is the poderdante or mandante.

What's the difference between poder notarial and carta poder?

A poder notarial is a formal document executed before a notary public, valid for significant legal acts (selling property, managing finances). A carta poder is a simpler authorization letter, common in Mexico for routine tasks (picking up documents, cashing checks).

Do I need a notary for a power of attorney in Spanish-speaking countries?

For most legal actions (real estate, banking, court representation), yes — a notario público must authenticate the document. For minor authorizations in Mexico, a carta poder with two witnesses may suffice without a notary.

Spanish vocabulary · Advanced

How to Say "Power of Attorney" in Spanish: Poder Notarial

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Poder Notarial · noun phrase (masculine) · poh-DEHR noh-tah-ree-AHL

Power of attorney in Spanish is poder notarial — a legal document authorizing someone to act on another's behalf. In Mexico, carta poder is a simpler version for specific transactions. The person receiving the power is the apoderado (attorney-in-fact).

poh-DEHR noh-tah-ree-AHL — stress on DEHR and AHL.

Mi padre me otorgó un poder notarial para vender la propiedad.

My father granted me power of attorney to sell the property.

Power of Attorney in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for power of attorney, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
poder notarial	power of attorney	poh-DEHR noh-tah-ree-AHL	Default, widely understood
carta poder	power of attorney		Mexico (simpler power of attorney)
poder legal	power of attorney		Universal informal
mandato	power of attorney		Some legal systems (mandate)

How Native Speakers Use Poder Notarial

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Granting power of attorney

Necesito firmar un poder notarial ante notario público.

I need to sign a power of attorney before a notary public.

In most Spanish-speaking countries, a poder notarial must be formalized before a notario.

Mexican carta poder

Con una carta poder simple puedes recoger el paquete en mi nombre.

With a simple power of attorney letter you can pick up the package on my behalf.

In Mexico, carta poder is used for routine authorizations that don't require a full notarial document.

Revoking the power

Decidí revocar el poder notarial que le había otorgado a mi hermano.

I decided to revoke the power of attorney I had granted my brother.

Revocar un poder is the legal action of withdrawing or canceling the authorization.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Poder Notarial

Translating literally as poder de abogado

Incorrect: Necesito un poder de abogado.

Correct: Necesito un poder notarial.

Attorney in 'power of attorney' doesn't mean lawyer (abogado). It means agent or representative. The Spanish term is poder notarial (notarized power) or carta poder, not anything involving abogado.

Confusing poder (power/document) with poder (to be able)

Incorrect: El poder puede ser revocado — confusing the noun with the verb.

Correct: El poder puede ser revocado. (The power of attorney can be revoked.)

Context distinguishes them: el poder (noun, the legal document) vs. poder + infinitive (verb, to be able to). In writing, articles (el, un) before poder signal the noun usage.

Lock in Power of Attorney Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Poder Notarial used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using poder notarial in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi padre me otorgó un poder notarial para vender la propiedad. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

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Common Questions About Power of Attorney in Spanish

How do you say power of attorney in Spanish?: Power of attorney is poder notarial (formal, notarized) or carta poder (Mexico, simpler authorizations). The person who receives the power is the apoderado or mandatario. The grantor is the poderdante or mandante.
What's the difference between poder notarial and carta poder?: A poder notarial is a formal document executed before a notary public, valid for significant legal acts (selling property, managing finances). A carta poder is a simpler authorization letter, common in Mexico for routine tasks (picking up documents, cashing checks).
Do I need a notary for a power of attorney in Spanish-speaking countries?: For most legal actions (real estate, banking, court representation), yes — a notario público must authenticate the document. For minor authorizations in Mexico, a carta poder with two witnesses may suffice without a notary.