Property and financial interests abroad? It can be much easier than you think!

We may be in the era of electronics and information where anything can be done regardless of where you are in the world, but there are still transactions that require a more physical approach. For example there is no place in the world where a buyer interested in buying property can do so without signing contracts and taking care of the appropriate paperwork. Similarly, a number of financial transactions cannot be completed without the handwritten prototype of a signature in some cases of both parties.

The situation gets even worse if one of the parties comes from one country, while the other comes from another. Especially in the case of buying property the applicable legislation in effect is always the one of the country where the property physically lies. This can be really confusing even for lawyers.

Some people want to get involved themselves being in need to control everything. Most of those who would engage in such a venture, would prefer the method of signing Powers of Attorney to appropriately specialized individuals. Make no mistake. The usual documents that are valid in one country may not be valid to another. For example if you want to do this kind of transactions in the United Kingdom, you need what they call lasting power of attorney.

Furthermore, different rules apply for the same documents in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. While a standard document may grant a person or a representative (a law firm, a company, a legal foundation, etc…) the ability to carry out property and/or financial transactions and/or decide upon issues of health and welfare, the different rules may require that these powers are provided in different documents.

And not to limit the scope of the needs to buying property or needing to make financial transactions, image the complications that would emerge for a resident of the U.S. to be appointed by court order, or being the only living next of kin (and therefore immediate legal guardian) of a person that has lost legal capacity for whatever reason.

The same peculiarities may stand true in other countries as well. If you trust your own lawyer to handle the process they may be in contact with an equivalent attorney in the country in question. This may facilitate the process in reference to the paperwork involved, but it will do nothing to cut it down as far as time is concerned, while you will need to cover the fees of both lawyers.

Here is where the modern era can cut down on the legal complications. Instead of contacting your own lawyer (or even a local lawyer claiming to be knowledgeable about the different legalities in other countries), you can go online, look for the appropriate attorney for what you need, get in touch and save in both time and money. The legalisms and paperwork are enough of a burden. You can cut down on the rest of the issues and make it as easy as possible for yourself.