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

German missions in the United States perform consular notarial acts for use in Germany: certifying signatures, certifying copies, and receiving declarations such as powers of attorney, inheritance declarations and health care proxies. A signature certified by a consular officer is accepted in Germany without an apostille.

Quick facts

One limit surprises people every week: after the amendment of the German money laundering rules, missions can no longer certify signatures or verify identity for opening a bank account, for loan applications above €15,000, or in comparable cases. Banks have to use their own procedures instead.

Fees breakdown

Payment follows the standard rules of the network: credit card charged in euros, or dollars in cash or by money order.

How to apply

1. Ask the German notary, lawyer or authority that will receive the document what form it must take — a certified signature is not the same as a notarised deed.
2. Obtain the draft from Germany and bring it unsigned.
3. Book an appointment at the mission covering your state.
4. Attend with valid photo identification; the officer checks identity before certifying.
5. Pay the fee at the counter.
6. Send the original to Germany, since a scan is rarely enough for a registry or a court.

Required documents

• Valid passport or German identity card.
• The unsigned document, complete, with no blank fields.
• Details of the person receiving the power, exactly as they appear on their documents.
• Any German reference numbers: land register, probate file, pension number.
• Payment in an accepted form.

Where to apply

Notarial services are provided by the embassy and the consulates general. Honorary consuls generally do not perform them, so check before travelling.

Additional notes

Certification is not drafting

Consular officers certify that you signed; they do not advise on content or draft the text. Wording that satisfies a German land registry or probate court should come from a German professional.

Some deeds need a German notary

Property transfers and certain company acts require a full notarial deed, which a consular officer cannot substitute. The consular route covers powers of attorney used in those transactions.

Inheritance files

Declarations accepting or renouncing a German estate run to statutory deadlines. Book early, because appointment capacity is the binding constraint.

Revocation

Revoking a power requires a further document executed the same way, and the revocation has to reach whoever holds the original.