Italian Power of Attorney in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Italian consular officers exercise notarial functions for acts intended to take effect in Italy: powers of attorney for property sales and inheritance, acceptance or renunciation of an estate, declarations of consent, authentication of signatures and certification of copies. The resulting instrument is an Italian notarial act and needs no apostille to be used in Italy.

Quick facts

The consulate does not draft the substance of a property or inheritance power for you. In practice the Italian notary handling the transaction prepares the text, sends it to you, and the consulate authenticates the signature or receives the act.

Fees breakdown

Because the euro amounts are converted quarterly, the dollar figure changes four times a year. Ask the consulate for the exact amount before buying the money order.

How to apply

1. Ask the Italian notary or lawyer handling the matter to prepare the text of the power, with the precise wording the registry or bank will expect.
2. Confirm with the consulate whether it will receive the act itself or only authenticate your signature on the notary’s draft.
3. Book an appointment on Prenot@Mi for the notarial service.
4. Check the current quarterly fee and prepare a money order for the exact amount.
5. Sign before the consular officer with valid identification. Do not sign in advance.
6. Send the original instrument to Italy, where the notary uses it to complete the transaction.

Required documents

• Valid Italian passport or identity card, or another accepted identity document.
• Italian tax code for every party named in the act.
• The draft prepared in Italy, unsigned.
• Details of the property, estate or matter the power concerns.
• Evidence of civil status when the act requires it.
• Money order for the consular fee.

Where to apply

Notarial services are provided by the consulate covering your residence. Availability varies, and some offices reserve these appointments for specific days of the week.

Additional notes

Acts for use in the United States

Consular notarial functions cover acts destined for Italy. Anything meant to take effect here goes before a U.S. notary instead.

The alternative route

A document signed before a U.S. notary can also work, but it then needs an apostille and an Italian translation, and Italian notaries are more exacting about wording in that format.

Inheritance

Accepting or renouncing an Italian estate has deadlines fixed by Italian law. Deal with the consular appointment early, because dates are scarce and the deadline does not move.

Revocation

A power is revoked by a further act executed the same way, and the revocation must reach the notary and anyone relying on the original.