What Ethiopian law says
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Special authority is required for acts other than acts of management. | Civil Code, Article 2205(1) |
| Without special authority, the agent may not alienate or mortgage real estate, invest capital, sign bills of exchange, effect a settlement, consent to arbitration, make donations or bring or defend an action. | Civil Code, Article 2205(2) |
| A special agency gives authority only for the affairs it specifies and their natural consequences. | Civil Code, Article 2206(1) |
| Documents of power of attorney and of its revocation are within the documents authentication and registration law. | Proclamation No. 922/2015, Article 2 |
Clause outline
Use these headings as the structure of your document. They are a drafting checklist, not finished legal wording.
- PrincipalFull name, nationality, address and identification of the person granting the power.
- AgentFull name, address and identification of the person receiving it.
- ScopeGeneral acts of management, or each special act listed expressly, such as selling a named property or representing the principal in a named case.
- Property or matterExact description of each property, account or case concerned.
- SubstitutionWhether the agent may delegate to another person.
- Duration and revocationStart date, end date or event, and how it may be revoked.
- Signature and authenticationSignature, date and place, followed by authentication and registration.
Before you sign
- List every special act expressly: a general power does not authorise the acts in Article 2205(2).
- Describe each property or case precisely, so the receiving office can match it.
- If you sign outside Ethiopia, ask the office that will receive the document what authentication it requires.
Draft it with jLaw
Give jLaw an instruction like this one. It drafts the document, cites the provisions it relies on and delivers revisions as tracked changes.
“Draft a special power of attorney authorising my brother to sell my house in Addis Ababa and to represent me before the land administration office, consistent with Articles 2199 to 2206 of the Civil Code.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a general and a special power of attorney in Ethiopia?
A general power covers acts of management. Under Article 2205 of the Civil Code, special authority is needed for other acts, including selling or mortgaging real estate, settling, consenting to arbitration, making donations and bringing or defending a lawsuit.
Does a power of attorney need to be authenticated in Ethiopia?
Powers of attorney and their revocation are documents covered by the Authentication and Registration of Documents Proclamation No. 922/2015. Check with the office that will rely on the document what it requires.
This page is general legal information about Ethiopian law, prepared from the published texts it cites. It is not legal advice and does not confirm whether a provision is still in force or has been amended. Federal laws are published in the Federal Negarit Gazeta in Amharic and English, and the Amharic version prevails where they differ. Consult a qualified Ethiopian lawyer about your situation.