Punomoć for Bosnia: Common Mistakes Diaspora Make
If you live abroad and need to handle paperwork in Bosnia and Herzegovina, chances are someone has told you:
“Just make a punomoć.”
Simple advice — but in practice, this is where many people get stuck.
Over the years, I’ve seen the same mistakes repeated again and again by people in the diaspora. Not because they’re careless, but because the rules aren’t clearly explained and expectations differ between countries.
This article breaks down the most common mistakes people make when creating a punomoć for Bosnia, and how to avoid unnecessary delays, rejections, and stress.
1. Assuming any power of attorney format will work
One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking that any power of attorney template is acceptable.
In reality, Bosnian institutions often expect:
specific wording
clear definition of powers
properly named parties
consistency with local legal terminology
A generic “Power of Attorney” downloaded online may look fine — but still be rejected.
Tip: Bosnia is very formal when it comes to legal documents. Vague or overly broad wording is a common reason for refusal.
2. Not being specific enough about what the agent can do
Many people write something like:
“I authorize X to represent me in all matters.”
That sounds convenient, but it’s often too vague.
Banks, courts, municipalities, and land registries usually want the punomoć to clearly state:
which institution
what action (e.g. collecting documents, signing, selling property)
for which purpose
If the task isn’t explicitly listed, the official handling your case may refuse to proceed.
3. Using the wrong language (or mixing languages incorrectly)
Another frequent issue is language.
Some people:
write the document only in English or German
mix Bosnian with another language
translate legal terms incorrectly
Most Bosnian authorities expect the document in Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, or at least a properly prepared version they can clearly understand.
Poor translations can create ambiguity — and ambiguity leads to rejection.
4. Forgetting notarization (or using the wrong kind)
A punomoć usually needs to be notarized, but where and how matters.
Common problems include:
not notarizing at all
notarizing without proper identification
not understanding whether additional legalization is required depending on where you live
While Bosnia is generally flexible, officials still expect the document to meet basic formal requirements.
5. Assuming one punomoć works forever
Some people reuse an old power of attorney from years ago, assuming it’s still valid.
In practice:
institutions may question outdated documents
personal details may no longer match records
older formats may not align with current expectations
Even if a punomoć is technically still valid, it may create friction.
6. Sending the document without checking requirements first
A very common diaspora scenario:
Create punomoć
Send it to Bosnia
Get a call saying “this won’t work”
Each institution can have slightly different expectations, and the cost of correcting mistakes from abroad is time, money, and frustration.
Final thoughts
Most punomoć problems aren’t about legality — they’re about format, clarity, and expectations.
People in the diaspora are often trying to solve a Bosnian problem using foreign assumptions, and that mismatch causes issues.
If you’re unsure whether your document will be accepted, it’s worth slowing down and getting it right the first time.
I built Punomoć after watching friends and family repeat these same mistakes — printing, rewriting, notarizing, resending — over and over again. The goal wasn’t to replace lawyers or notaries, but to remove unnecessary friction for straightforward cases.
If this article saved you time or helped you avoid a mistake, that’s already a win.
