I have a 14-year-old son in the Philippines and need to get his Certificate of Birth Abroad. Can I give someone power of attorney to sign on my behalf?
August 15, 2025
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Yes, you could grant power of attorney to sign, and because it’s a U.S.-based document, you can use a U.S. state power of attorney without requiring it to be validated in the Philippines or translated to Tagalog.
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I have a 14-year-old son in the Philippines and need to get his Certificate of Birth Abroad. Unfortunately, I don’t have the money to fly there to file it. Is it possible to give a power of attorney to someone there?
I understand how challenging it can be to navigate legal matters from afar, especially when it involves your child’s birth certificate. Have you already identified someone in the Philippines who could act on your behalf with a power of attorney?
Yes, it would be his grandmother.
Are there any specific requirements or documents you are aware of that need to be included for the power of attorney to be valid in the Philippines?
I don't know.
Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with obtaining your son’s birth certificate abroad.
Yes.
Hi there! My name is Liz, and I’ve been an attorney for more than a decade. I am here to assist with your legal concerns. So I can best help, is your mom going to be filing the CRBA for the first time for you, or will she be requesting a copy?
This is his grandmother, and yes, this is the first time.
Understood. For the power of attorney—because it’s being used for a U.S. purpose—you should be able to issue a normal state-based power of attorney, which would then be notarized and apostilled. Then, with the embassy, you would have to file the CRBA request.
Even though I’m a U.S. citizen and she is not?
Apologies, to clarify—the CRBA is for your son, but she is not a U.S. citizen?
I am the father and a U.S. citizen, and I need to give someone in the Philippines power of attorney to sign on my behalf. Is that allowed? The mother is not a U.S. citizen.
Apologies, thank you so much for clarifying. Have you established paternity?
I am on the birth certificate and have been sending money for his care.
Or are you asking if we have done a paternity test?
DNA can be helpful, but I am asking about legal paternity. Even though the mother is not a U.S. citizen, you can transmit your U.S. citizenship to the child as long as legal paternity has been established.
Are you and the mother married?
No, we were engaged when my son was born.
The easiest proof for paternity would be to have DNA testing done. The fact you are on the birth certificate also helps, and you could send a written affidavit—which is a notarized statement—attesting that you are the father.
OK, I can do that, but again—my question was if I could give power of attorney to someone there to sign the Certificate of Birth Abroad forms for me there. I still haven’t gotten that answered—just more questions.
Yes, you could grant power of attorney to sign, and because it’s a U.S.-based document, you can use a U.S. state power of attorney without requiring it to be validated in the Philippines or translated to Tagalog.
I hope this was helpful.
