Power of Attorney for Corporate

A company authorises a named person to handle one matter for it: the matter, the powers, the company seal where the country uses one, and the certificates to attach.

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Power of Attorney for Corporate: infographic with a sketch of the document, when to use it, common mistakes and the country versions.
8 clauses, 2 parties, 2 signatures, 2 checklists.

Country versions

  • International
  • United States *
  • United Kingdom *
  • Korea *
  • Japan *
  • Germany *

* check with local advice

A template, not advice.

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What it is

A power of attorney for a company lets a named person act for the company in one matter: file a registration, collect certificates, handle a bank procedure, sign a specific contract. A company can only act through people, usually its directors or officers. This document is how the person who represents the company passes part of that authority to someone else, on paper that an office or a bank can rely on.

Two things carry the weight. The first is the matter and the powers. Write down exactly what the agent may do and until when, and leave out what you do not mean to hand over, such as borrowing money or selling real estate. The second is proof. The office that receives the document wants to be sure that the person who signed for the company really can. Depending on the country that proof is the company seal with a seal certificate (Korea and Japan), an extract from the company register (almost everywhere), a board resolution or a secretary's certificate (the US) or the registered way the company is represented (Germany).

The form builds each country's version. The Korean 법인 인감 위임장 and the Japanese 法人の委任状 end with the representative's company seal and list the certificates to attach. The US version can add a secretary's certificate and a notary block. The UK version is a company deed signed by two authorised signatories or by one director in front of a witness. The German version records the register court and number, handles joint representation and offers the exemption from section 181 of the Civil Code.

When to use it
  • A company needs someone to file a registration or other filing at an office or registry.
  • A bank procedure or a certificate collection has to be done in person and the representative cannot go.
  • An employee or adviser has to sign a specific contract or closing document for the company.
  • An office has asked for a company power of attorney with proof of the signatory's authority.
How to fill it in
  1. Choose the country first; the seal, the certificates and the signing form change with it.
  2. Your company details come from your saved details. Check the address and the representative's title.
  3. Enter the agent's name and position, and describe the matter in a way that leaves no doubt about what is covered.
  4. Tick the powers, add limits and an end date, and enter the date of the company resolution if there was one.
  5. Tick the attachments you will include, and get the certificates just before you submit.
  6. Have the representative sign (and stamp the company seal where your country uses one), then give the original to the agent.
Common mistakes
  • Handing over the company seal itself when the task is only to stamp particular documents.
  • Describing the matter so vaguely that the office cannot tell what is covered.
  • Attaching a certificate that is older than the receiving office accepts.
  • Having only one person sign when the company can only be represented jointly.
  • Leaving out the board resolution where the articles or the law require one for the matter.
  • Using a single-matter power of attorney where a registered commercial authority is needed.
Steps at a glance
  1. Fill in
  2. Check the preview
  3. Save as PDF, Word or Excel
Country versions

Pick the country you need. Each version uses the wording and layout commonly found there; a version marked “check with local advice” should be read by someone who knows the local rules before it is used.

  • International (XX): Written in English, Korean, Japanese, German
  • United States (US): Written in English – check with local advice
  • United Kingdom (GB): Written in English – check with local advice
  • Korea (KR): Written in Korean, English – check with local advice
  • Japan (JP): Written in Japanese, English – check with local advice
  • Germany (DE): Written in German, English – check with local advice

Designs

The same form in several designs. The fields and the wording stay the same; only the look changes.

  • Formal
  • Executive
  • Classic
  • Plain (black and white)
  • Minimal
  • Ledger
  • Modern
  • Compact
  • Side band
  • Warm
  • Boxed form
  • Banner

Your details fill it in

Fields that ask for your name, address or company details are filled from My details, so you do not type them again; you can still change any field for one form. Signed in, your details stay in your account; otherwise they stay in this browser only. A passport, identity or social security number is never saved.

Questions

Who signs for the company?
The person or persons who can represent the company under its articles and the law: a representative director in Korea and Japan, directors or authorised officers in the US and UK, the managing directors of a GmbH or the board of an AG in Germany. If the company can only be represented jointly, as many people must sign as the register shows.
Do I need a board resolution?
Not always. It depends on the matter, on the company's articles and on the law. Routine filings usually do not need one; borrowing, guarantees and real estate often do. The office that receives the document may also ask for one. Enter the date if there is a resolution and attach a copy of the minutes.
How is this different from a registered commercial authority?
A registered authority, such as the Prokura in Germany or the manager (지배인 in Korea, 支配人 in Japan), is entered in a register and covers the business as a whole. This form is a power of attorney for one matter, with its own start and end. It does not create a registered authority.
Can an employee or an outside adviser be the agent?
Yes, in general. For a registration an outside professional, such as a lawyer or in some countries a registered specialist, is often the agent. For other matters an employee with a clear role is common. Some offices ask for proof that the agent works for the company or is licensed; the attachments list covers it.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a general template. What proof of authority an office wants and how a document must be signed differ by country, by office and by the company's articles, so ask the receiving office first and have an adviser look at anything involving real estate, loans or guarantees.
Is this form legal, tax or accounting advice?
No. It is a template: it gives you the usual structure and wording, not advice. Rules differ by country and case, so have someone qualified read anything that matters before you sign, send or file it.
Which countries and designs does it come in?
It comes in 6 country versions: International, United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, and Germany. 12 designs.

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A form is a template, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules differ by country and case.