Papua New Guinea is a common law jurisdiction, so a power of attorney will look familiar to an American lawyer. The document is drafted by a lawyer in Papua New Guinea, executed here, and then used or registered there.
Quick facts
The land question shapes everything. Around nine tenths of the country’s land is held under customary tenure by clans, not by individuals with title, so a power of attorney over "the family land" may not mean what an overseas relative assumes.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consular act or certification | Published tariff | Confirm when booking |
| U.S. notarisation | $5–$25 per signature | First step |
| State and federal certification | $3–$25 plus $20 | Before the consular step |
| Lawyer’s fees in PNG | Agreed with the firm | Drafting and completion |
| Courier | Carrier’s charge | Both directions |
Estates and business interests are the other common reasons, and where land is customary, the clan rather than the estate may be the relevant decision-maker.
How to apply
- Instruct a lawyer in Papua New Guinea to draft the document.
- Establish whether the land or asset is held under customary tenure or registered title.
- Gather the identity details of everyone named.
- Have the document notarised and certified here.
- Arrange the consular appointment and confirm the fee.
- Courier the original and keep a scan.
Required documents
- Papua New Guinean passport or identification.
- The draft prepared in Papua New Guinea.
- Full details of the person receiving the authority.
- Title or case references where they exist.
- U.S. certifications already attached.
- Payment in the accepted form.
Where to apply
At the embassy in Washington or the consulate general in Los Angeles, by appointment.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Customary or registered
Establish which applies before drafting anything. It determines whether a power of attorney can achieve what you want at all.
Clan decisions
Where land is customary, decisions rest with the group rather than an individual, however the document is worded.
Be specific
Name the asset and the acts authorised as precisely as the local records allow.
Revocation
Revoking requires a further document through the same route, with notice to whoever holds the original.