Obtaining a Power of Attorney for CA while in the UK??

I'm planning a move back to CA next year and would like to give two friends power of attorney to be able to sign a purchase order on my behalf as I'd like to purchase a home before the move ready to move into when I arrive with my children.

Can anyone reccommend a US attorney in the UK that could help me with this or has anyone else needed to do the same?? I've looked at standard template durable power of on line that you can download but it looks as though I would need a notary in CA to notarize and I'd need to be present and I don't plan on visiting CA before the move.

Please help   

Actually my understanding is you have to go to the US embassy and have it done there. I had 2 POA's done (1 to sell a house and 1 to buy) in 3 years, both for GA, and I had to have them both done by the US Embassy.

Thanks Andrea,

Do you remember which department at the Embassy you worked with and if they provided the forms?? I'm sure they would have charged a fee for doing so..

You have to have the forms prepared by whatever attorney you are working with. Then you take them to the Embassy, and they notarize the POA. They do charge, and you do need an appointment. I don't remember how much it was, maybe $60? Maybe less?

Here is the link:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/scs/notary.html

Thanks Andrea - this is very helpful.

I tried speaking with an attorney right before we left CA the other day but they didn't have any appts for another 2 weeks and it seemed from what they said that it would cost quite a bit as they wanted a consultation and then time to prepare the docs.

I've done some hunting around since being back and think I could use the following:

newcomer link: http://www.kinseylaw.com/freestuff/persfam/poweratty/californiastatutorypower.htm [nonactive]

and just check the box for real estate so that either of my 2 friends (I'll give them both POW) can sign a purchase order for me - what do you think??

My understanding is that you would still need this notarized, and the US doesn't recognize UK notaries, so you would have to get it done at the Embassy. This could be a state thing, this was definitely the case in GA.

Sorry I can't be more help to CA!

Oh yes was still going to have the Embasy notarize. Thank you for all your help. I'll run this doc by my realtor and make sure it works and then set up a time with the embassy