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

Guatemalan consuls exercise notarial functions for acts intended to take effect in Guatemala: powers of attorney, wills, donations between Guatemalans, protocolisation of documents and authentication of signatures. A simple signed letter of authority written in the United States is not enough for most business back home.

Quick facts

There are two workable routes: grant the mandate before the consul, or sign before a U.S. notary and then have the document apostilled, translated and protocolised by a notary in Guatemala. The consular route has fewer points of failure; the U.S. route is often faster when consular capacity is short.

Fees breakdown

Consular fees in this network are not uniform. Call or write to your consulate for the current amount before buying the money order, because an incorrect amount means a second trip.

How to apply

1. Decide what kind of mandate you need: a general one covering an open series of acts, or a special one limited to a single transaction such as selling a plot or collecting a pension.
2. Gather the full legal names and CUI numbers of both the grantor and the person receiving the power, exactly as they appear on their Guatemalan documents.
3. Contact the consulate with a written description of the powers so the officer can prepare the instrument.
4. Pay the fee by money order made out to that consulate.
5. Sign before the consular officer with current identification.
6. Send the instrument to Guatemala, where the mandate has to be registered before it can be used.

Required documents

• Valid DPI or Guatemalan passport of every grantor.
• CUI of the grantor and of the person receiving the power, plus a copy of that person’s identity document.
• A precise description of the acts authorised, with an end date where one applies.
• Proof of U.S. address.
• Marriage certificate or civil status evidence when the act requires it.
• Money order for the consular fee.

Where to apply

Any consulate in your district can carry out notarial acts, and mobile consular days include notarial services, though availability varies from office to office.

Additional notes

Registration in Guatemala

A mandate is not fully effective until it is entered in the electronic register of powers kept by the General Archive of Protocols. Whoever acts on your behalf will need the registered instrument, not a photocopy.

Be specific

The narrower the description of the act, the fewer problems when the document is presented. Vague wording is refused by registries and banks far more often than people expect.

Revocation

Revoking a mandate requires a further instrument granted the same way, and the revocation must be registered and communicated to whoever holds the original. An old general power left in force is a real risk.

Wills and estates

Consulates can authorise wills and donations between Guatemalans. Anything meant to take effect inside the United States has to go before a local notary instead, because consular notarial acts are for use in Guatemala.