Djibouti follows the French civil law tradition, so a power of attorney is a formal instrument and its wording matters. Get the text from the notary or lawyer in Djibouti who will use it, and expect the whole thing to be in French.
Quick facts
Property and inheritance are the usual reasons. Djiboutian succession combines civil law forms with personal status rules, so the lawyer there should confirm which apply before anything is drafted.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consular act | Not published | Ask the embassy |
| U.S. notarisation | $5–$25 per signature | First step |
| State and federal certification | $3–$25 plus $20 | Before the consular step |
| French translation | Per page | Usually required |
| Courier | Carrier’s charge | Both directions |
Where several heirs are involved and they live in different countries, coordinating the documents takes longer than preparing any one of them.
How to apply
- Ask the notary in Djibouti for the wording and the acts to authorise.
- Collect the identity details of everyone named.
- Gather the property references as they appear in Djiboutian records.
- Have the document notarised and certified here.
- Contact the embassy about the consular step and its cost.
- Courier the original and keep a scan.
Required documents
- Djiboutian passport or identity card.
- The wording supplied from Djibouti, in French.
- Identity details of the person receiving the power.
- Property or case references.
- U.S. certifications already attached.
- Payment in the form the embassy accepts.
Where to apply
At the embassy in Washington, the only Djiboutian mission in the country.
Additional notes
Get the wording from there
A document drafted to an American template will not satisfy a civil law notary.
Be specific
Name the property and the acts authorised as precisely as the records allow.
Coordinate heirs early
Documents arriving from several countries take months to assemble.
Revocation
Revoking requires a further instrument through the same route, with notice to whoever holds the original.