penomocnik

Penomocnik is a term used in some Slavic-language contexts to denote a person who is legally empowered to act on behalf of another person. The Polish form, pełnomocnik, is typically translated as proxy or attorney-in-fact. When written without diacritics, penomocnik or pelnomocnik commonly appears in ASCII texts.

A pełnomocnik is authorized by a pełnomocnictwo (power of attorney) granted by the principal (mocodawca) to act for the principal in specified matters. The scope can be general (pełnomocnictwo ogólne), covering a wide range of acts, or specific (pełnomocnictwo szczególne), limited to particular tasks. In some cases, especially for certain significant acts such as real estate transactions or notarial matters, a notarial form (pełnomocnictwo notarialne) may be required. The form and validity rules vary by jurisdiction, but the core idea is that the agent can bind the principal to contracts and other legal actions within the granted authority.

The consignee of power must act within the defined limits and in the principal’s best interests. The principal can revoke the full or partial authority at any time, and the power ceases upon the principal’s death, loss of capacity, or expiration of the instructed term. The pełnomocnik has duties to act lawfully and in good faith; exceeding the scope of authority can create liability for the agent and potentially for the principal.

In a broader context, the concept exists worldwide as power of attorney or attorney-in-fact, with variations in form, scope, and formal requirements.