Delegation of authority refers to an act whereby one person, known as the principal or grantor, grants another person, known as the agent, the power to act on their behalf. Such actions, when performed, carry the same legal effect as if they were executed directly by the principal.[1]
授權是指一個人、稱為委託人或授予人授予另一個人、稱為代理人代表其行事的權力的行為。此類行為一旦執行，具有與委託人直接執行相同的法律效力。
In case where the agent acts beyond the scope of the authority granted, the actions that exceed the authority will not bind the principal but will bind the agent themselves, who will be fully responsible for those actions.
代理人超越授權範圍的行為、超越權限的行為對委託人不具有約束力，但對代理人本身俱有約束力，代理人應對該行為承擔全部責任。
The delegation of authority to another person to perform any act that the law requires to be executed in writing must also be made in writing. Examples include loan agreements involving amounts of 2,000 baht or more or the purchase and sale of real estate.[2]
授權他人執行法律要求以書面形式執行的任何行為也必須有書面形式。例如涉及金額 2,000 泰銖或以上的貸款協議或房地產的買賣。
In Thailand, the delegation of authority to act on behalf of a company allows the company to authorize any individual to carry out various activities on its behalf. However, such delegation must be conducted in compliance with the following principles:
在泰國，代表公司行事的授權允許公司授權任何個人代表其進行各種活動。但是，此類授權必須遵循以下原則：
1. Power of attorney must have a purpose that does not contradict or conflict with the law, and it must specify the actions that the authorized representative is empowered to undertake in order to bind the company;
委託書的目的必須不與法律相抵觸或衝突，且必須明確授權代表人有權採取的行動，以約束公司;
2. The person signing the power of attorney as the principal must be a director with the authority to sign, accompanied by the company's official seal (if any);
作為委託人簽署委託書的人必須是有權簽署的董事，並加蓋公司章(如有);
3. Copy of the identification documents of both the principal and the authorized representative, such as a company affidavit or a copy of the passport, must be attached;
必須附上委託人和授權代表人的身份證明文件影本，例如公司宣誓書或護照影本;
4. The authorized representative, along with a witness, must sign the power of attorney; and
授權代表人必須與見證人一起簽署授權書;及
5. Stamp duty must be affixed to the power of attorney.
委託書需有印花稅。
Why You Might Need a Power of Attorney in Thailand
為什麼您在泰國可能需要委託書
As a foreigner in Thailand, there are several scenarios where a POA might be essential:
作為在泰國的外國人，有幾種情況可能需要 POA：
Ø Property Transactions: If you are buying or selling property in Thailand, but cannot be presented for the transaction, POA allows a trusted person to complete the deal on your behalf.
房產交易：如果您在泰國購買或出售房產但無法出席交易，POA 允許值得信賴的人代表您完成交易。
Ø Business Operations: For business owners, POA can delegate decision-making authority to a manager or partner, ensuring smooth operations in your absence.
業務運作：對於企業主來說，POA 可以將決策權委託給經理或合作夥伴，確保您不在時順利運作。
Ø Banking and Financial Management: Managing bank accounts, investments, or other financial matters can be streamlined by granting a POA to a reliable individual.
銀行與財務管理：透過向可靠的個人授予 POA，可以簡化銀行帳戶、投資或其他財務事務的管理。
Ø Legal Proceedings: If you are involved in legal matters, such as lawsuits or negotiations, a POA allows a legal representative to act on your behalf.
法律訴訟：如果您涉及法律事務，例如訴訟或談判，POA 允許法律代表代表您行事。
There are several types of power of attorney in Thailand, such as:
泰國委託書有多種類型，例如:
1. General Power of Attorney: This grants broad powers to the agent to manage all of the principal’s affairs. It is comprehensive and covers a wide range of actions and decisions.
一般授權書：給予代理人廣泛的權力來管理委託人的所有事務。此為全面性，涵蓋廣泛的行動和決策。
2. Specific Power of Attorney: This grants limited powers to the agent for specific tasks, such as selling a property, managing bank accounts, or signing documents on the principal’s behalf.
特定委託書：給予代理人執行特定任務的有限權力，例如出售財產、管理銀行帳戶或代表委託人簽署文件。
3. Durable Power of Attorney: This remains in effect even if the principal becomes incapacitated. It is particularly useful for long-term planning and ensuring continuity in decision-making.
持久委託書: 即使委託人喪失行為能力，此委託書仍然有效。這對於長期規劃和確保決策的連續性特別有用。
4. Special Power of Attorney: This is typically used for a one-time transaction or a specific legal matter, such as court representation or the sale of a vehicle.
特別委託書: 這通常用於一次性交易或特定法律事務，例如法院代理或車輛銷售。
For example, Company A has granted power of attorney to Person B, who is not a director of Company A, to sign the loan agreement with Company C on behalf of the company. The person signing the power of attorney is a director with the authority to sign, accompanied by the company’s official seal. Additionally, the authorized representatives and witnesses have signed the document.
例如，A公司已授權非A公司董事的B代表公司與C公司簽署貸款協議。委託書的簽署人為有權簽署的董事、並加蓋公司章。此外，授權代表人和見證人已簽署該文件。
Therefore, Company A can delegate authority to an individual who is not a company director to sign the loan agreement on behalf of the company with Company C.
因此，A公司可以委託非公司董事的個人代表公司與C公司簽訂貸款協議。
Important Considerations
重要考慮因素
When granting a POA in Thailand, there are several important factors to keep in mind:
在泰國授予 POA 時，需要牢記以下幾個重要因素：
Ø Trustworthiness of the Agent: Choose an agent who is trustworthy and capable of handling your affairs responsibly. This is crucial as the agent will have significant control over your legal and financial matters.
代理人的可信度：選擇一個值得信賴並且能夠負責任處理您的事務的代理人。這一點至關重要，因為代理人將對您的法律和財務事務擁有重大控制權。
Ø Clarity and Specificity: Be clear and specific about the powers you are granting. Ambiguities can lead to misunderstandings or misuse of authority.
清楚明瞭和具體：明確和具體說明您授予的權力。含糊不清可能會導致誤解或濫用權力。
Ø Duration and Revocation: Specify the duration of the POA and understand the process for revoking it if necessary. A POA can be revoked at any time by the principal, provided they are mentally competent.
期間和撤銷：具體說明 POA 的期間，並了解必要時撤銷的流程。只要委託人精神正常，委託人可以隨時撤銷 POA。
Ø Legal Advice: Seek legal advice to ensure the POA is drafted correctly and complies with Thai law. A lawyer can also help you understand the implications of granting a POA.
法律建議：尋求法律建議、確保 POA 起草正確並符合泰國法律。律師還可以幫助您了解授予 POA 的影響。
The law does not specifically prescribe the requirement for attaching identification documents of the principal and the authorized representative, the power of attorney in question is therefore legally valid and enforceable.
法律沒有具體規定委託人及其授權代表人的身份證明文件的要求，因此該委託書具有法律效力和可執行性。
Power of attorney can be drafted to specify the scope of authority in a general or broad manner. However, upon consideration, specifying the scope of authority too broadly may pose challenges in proving the extent of the authority to execute contracts, especially if a dispute arises in the future.
可以起草委託書並以一般或廣泛的方式明確授權範圍。但經考慮，過於寬泛的授權範圍可能會為證明合約履行權限造成困難，尤其是在日後發生爭議時。
Can a company accept a copy of the power of attorney in lieu of the original document? Under the relevant laws of Thailand, there is no explicit provision stating that a “power of attorney must be in the original document”.
公司可以接受授權書副本代替正本嗎? 泰國相關法律並無明確規定“委託書必須為正本”。
Under the Civil and Commercial Code, it is stated that “Any activity that is required by law to be in writing must also have a written power of attorney for that activity.”[3]
根據《泰國民商法》規定，“法律要求以書面形式進行的任何活動還必須有該活動的書面委託書。”
It can be inferred that a power of attorney is not required to be submitted in the original document and may be provided in the form of a copy. The submission of the original power of attorney is solely for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of the signatures of the principal and the authorized representative.
由此可見，委託書無須提交正本，可以以副本的形式提供。提交委託書正本僅用於驗證委託人及授權代表人簽名的真實性。
We therefore recommend company to accept the original power of attorney to verify and compare the signature of the principal in the document with the signature provided by the company to it, in order to prevent any future disputes regarding the contract.
因此，我們建議公司接受委託書正本，以核實並比較文件中委託人的簽名與公司的簽名，防止未來出現任何合約糾紛。
Such company may accept the original power of attorney in electronic form. The use of an electronic power of attorney is legally binding and enforceable[4], and it can also be used as evidence in legal proceedings.[5]
該公司可以接受電子形式的委託書正本。使用電子委託書具有法律約束力和可執行性，也可以在法律訴訟中作為證據。
On the other hand, to revoke a power of attorney, the principal or grantor must issue a formal revocation document, which should be notarized and, if necessary, registered with the relevant authorities. It is advisable to inform all parties who might be affected by the revocation, including banks, business partners, and government agencies, to prevent the agent from continuing to act on behalf of the principal or grantor.
另一方面，要撤銷授權書，委託人或授予人必須發出正式的撤銷文件，該文件應經過公證，並在必要時向有關單位登記。建議通知所有可能受到撤銷影響的各方，包括銀行、業務合作夥伴和政府機構，以防止代理人繼續代表委託人或授予人行事。
Granting a Power of Attorney in Thailand is a practical solution for managing your affairs when you cannot be present or need specialized assistance. By understanding the types of POA, the process for obtaining one, and the important considerations involved, you can ensure that your interests are well-protected and your legal and financial matters are handled effectively. Always consult with a legal professional to tailor the POA to your specific needs and comply with Thai law, ensuring peace of mind as you navigate your responsibilities in Thailand.
當您無法在場或需要專門協助時，在泰國授予委託書是管理您事務的實用解決方案。透過了解 POA 的類型、取得 POA 的流程以及所涉及的重要注意事項，您可以確保您的利益得到良好保護，並有效處理您的法律和財務事務。請務必諮詢法律專業人士，根據您的特定需求客製化 POA，並遵守泰國法律，確保您在泰國履行職責時安心無憂。
[1] Civil and Commercial Code Section 797.
[2] Civil and Commercial Code Section 798.
[3] Civil and Commercial Code Section 798.
[4] Electronic Transactions Act B.E. 2544 Section 7.
[5] Electronic Transactions Act B.E. 2544 Section 11.
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