General power of attorney

A general power of attorney covers a range of matters. A specific power of attorney is limited to a defined act or task. The word general does not give the representative unlimited authority or guarantee that a bank, registry or court accepts the document. Identify the institutions, transactions and limits that the representative needs.

In Israel, section 20 of the Notaries Law sets notarial-form requirements for general powers of attorney and powers for certain registrable real-estate transactions. Statutory exceptions apply, including rules concerning powers given to advocates. The Enforcement and Collection Authority's procedure distinguishes these forms and requires authority appropriate to the service requested. Confirm the required form for the actual transaction before signing.

A general power of attorney should not be treated as a substitute for an Israeli continuing power of attorney, which has a separate statutory preparation and deposit process for future loss of decision-making ability. For foreign use, check the receiving institution's wording, translation and any required authentication separately. Send the intended task and the recipient's request before choosing a broad mandate.