When it is worth it
Not for every certificate. If the procedure is clear and you are here, get it yourself, and I will tell you exactly that.
It is worth it when you are abroad and every visit costs a journey, when the procedure has already stalled and nobody explains why, when deadlines are running and inaction has a price, or when a refusal ought to be appealed rather than accepted.
Why procedures stall
Rarely out of ill will. More often because one requirement has not been met in the way that particular office reads it.
A document without an apostille. A translation done by the wrong person. An application filed by someone without authority to file it. A fee paid into the wrong account. A requirement that was valid two years ago and is not any more.
The work is to establish what exactly stopped the file, rather than submitting the same thing again.
A refusal is not the end
A refusal, express or by silence, can be appealed, and the deadlines for that are short. Many people accept a refusal because nobody told them they could challenge it.
If you have received one, bring exactly that document. It usually states the deadline and the route.
What can be done under a power of attorney
Filing and collecting documents, representation in administrative proceedings, searches in registers, correspondence, paying fees, appealing.
Some steps require a particular form or express authority. So the power of attorney is drafted for what will actually be done, rather than taken from a general template. See power of attorney from abroad.
Useful before you start
Ask for the requirements in writing. A verbal explanation at the counter binds nobody, while a written one is a basis for appeal if it turns out to be wrong.
What I will need
What you want to happen and which institution you have approached. Every document received, refusals and notices included. If you have a list of required documents, bring it exactly as it was given to you.
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice on any specific case. Rights and deadlines depend on the facts and the applicable law.