How to revoke a power of attorney in Ontario: in writing, signed in front of two qualified witnesses while you are capable (Substitute Decisions Act ss. 12 and 53). Who to notify, what a new POA does to the old one, and what a notary does.
Last updated: October 13, 2026
How to Revoke a Power of Attorney in Ontario
Quick answer: You can revoke a power of attorney in Ontario at any time while you are capable of making one. The revocation must be in writing and signed the same way as the original: in front of two qualified witnesses, who each sign it too (Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, s. 12(2) for property, s. 53(2) for personal care). No government form or lawyer is required. A new power of attorney also ends an old one of the same kind, unless you say otherwise. Then tell your attorney and your bank. Minute Notary witnesses revocations in person, on a mobile visit; we do not draft them or give legal advice.
People revoke a power of attorney for ordinary reasons: the attorney moved away, a marriage ended, or the document no longer fits. The law makes it simple but strict about form, and a revocation nobody hears about does not stop an attorney who still holds the original. If you have a question about your own document, contact us or call (613) 434-5555.
Key Takeaways
| Question | Answer | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Who can revoke? | Only the person who made it, while capable of making one | SDA ss. 8(2), 47(3) |
| How? | In writing, signed in front of two qualified witnesses who each sign | ss. 12(2), 53(2), 10, 48 |
| Does a new POA cancel the old one? | Yes, for the same kind, unless you provide for more than one | ss. 12(1)(d), 53(1)(c) |
| Must I tell the attorney? | The Act sets no notice step, but good-faith acts before they know can still bind you | s. 13(1); Powers of Attorney Act |
| Online or in person? | Video is allowed if one witness is licensed by the Law Society; we witness in person | s. 3.1 |
Who Can Revoke a Power of Attorney, and When
Only the person who made it, called the grantor, can revoke a power of attorney. The attorney cannot, and neither can a spouse, a child or anyone else in the family.
You can revoke it whenever you like, as long as you are capable of making one at that moment (s. 8(2) for property, s. 47(3) for personal care):
- Property: among other things, you know what you own and roughly what it is worth, you know you can revoke the document, and you appreciate that the attorney could misuse the authority (s. 8(1)).
- Personal care: a lower test. You can understand whether the person genuinely cares about your welfare, and you appreciate that you may need them to decide for you (s. 47(1)).
Capacity is judged when you sign, not by a diagnosis. "Durable" and "enduring" are terms from other places; Ontario's equivalent is the continuing power of attorney for property.
How to Revoke a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property
Section 12(2) says the revocation must be in writing and "executed in the same way as a continuing power of attorney." That means:
- In writing. Saying "I take it back" is not a revocation. Ontario's Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) says there is no special form.
- Two witnesses present when you sign, each of whom signs as a witness (s. 10(1)).
- Qualified witnesses. The OPGT's guide to the Act confirms the people who cannot witness a power of attorney cannot witness its revocation. Under s. 10(2) that rules out the attorney and the attorney's spouse or partner, your own spouse or partner, your child (or someone you treat as your child), a person whose property is under guardianship or who has a guardian of the person, and anyone under 18.
A clear revocation identifies you and the document (its type, date and attorneys), says plainly that you revoke it, and carries the date and all three signatures. A lawyer can draft it; a notary cannot. See also who can witness a signature in Ontario.
Video witnessing. The witnesses may take part by live video if at least one is a lawyer or paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and the signatures are made at the same time (s. 3.1(2)); s. 3.1(5) applies this to revocations. Minute Notary's policy is to witness in person.
Revoking a Power of Attorney for Personal Care
The same rules apply. The revocation must be in writing and executed like the original (s. 53(2)): two witnesses who each sign (s. 48(1)), with the same people disqualified (s. 48(2)). You can revoke if you are capable of giving one (s. 47(3)).
One exception: if your document contains effective special provisions under s. 50 (for example, authority to use force to take you to treatment), it can be revoked only if an assessor found you capable of personal care within 30 days before you sign (s. 50(4)). These are rare; see a lawyer.
Does a New Power of Attorney Cancel the Old One?
Yes, for the same kind of document. A new continuing power of attorney for property ends the old one, and a new power of attorney for personal care ends the old one, unless you provide that there are to be multiple powers of attorney (ss. 12(1)(d) and 53(1)(c)).
- The two kinds are separate. A new property document does not end your personal-care document, and the reverse.
- Bank forms count. The OPGT warns that signing a bank's own power of attorney form could revoke the one you already signed, leaving no one to handle your other assets. Ask a lawyer first.
- Notice still matters. Your old attorney may not know. Tell them in writing.
You can sign a separate revocation and the new power of attorney at the same visit. To prepare the new one, start from our free power of attorney for property template or power of attorney drafted online; our Ontario power of attorney forms guide explains each part.
Revoking a Non-Continuing Power of Attorney
A non-continuing power of attorney for property is the limited kind, for example while you travel. The OPGT says it cannot be used if you become mentally incapable. The SDA's execution rules for continuing powers of attorney do not apply to it, and the Powers of Attorney Act sets no form for revoking one. Write a dated, signed revocation, deliver it to the attorney and anyone relying on the document, and follow any end date or method the document sets. Good-faith acts done without knowledge of the revocation stay valid (Powers of Attorney Act, s. 3(1)). Our non-continuing power of attorney template explains how this kind differs.
After You Sign: Tell Everyone Who Relies on It
The Act does not make notice part of revoking, but notice is what stops the attorney. After a continuing power of attorney ends, what the attorney does with it is still valid between you and anyone, the attorney included, who acted in good faith without knowing it had ended (s. 13(1)).
The OPGT suggests you:
- give the revocation to your attorney, and to any co-attorney or substitute;
- tell everyone involved with your income or property, such as your bank and pension sources, and send them a copy;
- for personal care, give a copy to the health care providers and caregivers who know about the document;
- if you own real estate, consider having a lawyer register notice of the revocation on title;
- get the original back from your attorney.
Deliver it in a way you can prove (by hand against a signed, dated receipt, or by registered mail or tracked courier) and keep the receipts. Some institutions want a certified true copy. Some banks ask an attorney to swear a statutory declaration that a power of attorney remains in effect before acting; once your attorney has your notice, they cannot truthfully make it.
Other Ways a Power of Attorney Ends
| Event | Property, s. 12(1) | Personal care, s. 53(1) |
|---|---|---|
| You revoke it in writing, properly witnessed | (e) | (d) |
| You sign a new one of the same kind, unless you provide for more than one | (d) | (c) |
| The court appoints a guardian | (c) guardian of property | (b) guardian of the person |
| The attorney dies, becomes incapable or resigns, and no one else can step in | (a) | (a) |
A property power of attorney also ends when you die (s. 12(1)(f)). An attorney can also resign; once they have acted, the resignation takes effect only when copies are delivered to you and the others the Act lists (s. 11 for property, s. 52 for personal care).
When the grantor can no longer revoke. No one can revoke on your behalf. The court can appoint a guardian, which ends the power of attorney, but only where a less restrictive option will not do (ss. 22(3), 55(2)), and can order an attorney for property to pass their accounts (s. 42). The OPGT investigates allegations that a person is incapable and at risk of serious adverse effects (ss. 27, 62), and a finding that someone cannot consent to a treatment can be reviewed by the Consent and Capacity Board (Health Care Consent Act, s. 32). These are matters for a lawyer.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Revoke a Power of Attorney?
No. The Act asks for a written revocation and two qualified witnesses, not a lawyer. See one first if your family disagrees or someone is pressing you, if your capacity could be questioned, if real estate is involved, if you signed on a bank's form or want two powers of attorney in force, or if you want video witnessing.
What a notary can and cannot do: A notary public checks your government photo ID, watches you sign the revocation, signs as one of the two witnesses, and can certify true copies of the signed revocation. A notary does not draft the revocation, advise you whether to revoke, carry out a formal capacity assessment, or register anything on title. For those, you need a lawyer.
How the Signing Works with Minute Notary
Why it is in person. Video witnessing needs a lawyer or paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario as one witness (s. 3.1). Our policy is to witness in person, on a mobile visit to your home, a hospital or a care residence; contact us to confirm your area. The notary is one of the two witnesses. If no one you can bring qualifies as the second, we can provide one (an additional charge applies).
- Have the revocation ready, printed with the signature lines blank, and the new power of attorney too if you are signing one. We can bring printing at $0.40 per page (black and white).
- Get in touch. Contact us or call (613) 434-5555. Tell us which document you are revoking, whether you are signing a new one, and whether you have a qualified second witness.
- On the visit: you show valid government photo ID, the notary checks that you understand the document and are signing freely, and you sign in front of both witnesses, who then sign. If the notary has real doubts about your understanding, the notary will not witness it.
- After the visit: keep the signed original and send copies as above. If your bank wants a certified true copy, tell us when you book.
Our mobile notary for wills and powers of attorney guide describes a home or bedside visit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Tearing up the original and stopping there. Destroying it does not revoke it, and copies may already sit with your bank.
- Using a family member as a witness. Your spouse, your child or the attorney's spouse cannot witness the revocation.
- Telling no one. An attorney who never hears of the revocation may keep acting (s. 13(1)).
- Forgetting the other document. Revoking your property power of attorney leaves your personal-care one in force, and the reverse.
Pricing
| Service | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Witnessing a revocation (mobile visit) | $115 | Priced like one power of attorney |
| A revocation and a new power of attorney | $200 | Any two documents at the same visit |
| Mobile travel fee | $60 (up to 30 km from our nearest office in Ottawa or Toronto), once per trip | Not once per document |
| Certified true copy of the signed revocation | $24.95 per seal | Plus HST |
| Printing on request | $0.40 per page | Black and white |
Note: prices are before HST, and card processing is extra. The $60 travel fee is charged once per trip, not once per document, and covers up to 30 km from our nearest office in Ottawa or Toronto; beyond that, an additional travel fee applies. An additional charge applies for an additional witness. Couple signing discount — please email us for a rate.
All fees are shown in full before you pay. See every posted rate on our pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you revoke a power of attorney in Ontario?
While you are mentally capable, put the revocation in writing and sign it in front of two qualified witnesses, who each sign it too. The Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 requires a revocation to be executed the same way as the power of attorney itself (s. 12(2) for property, s. 53(2) for personal care). Then give copies to your attorney and to everyone who relies on the old document.
Do you need a lawyer to revoke a power of attorney?
No. The Act requires writing and two qualified witnesses, not a lawyer. See a lawyer first if your family disagrees, your capacity could be questioned, real estate is involved, or you signed a power of attorney on a bank's own form. If the witnesses take part by video, one of them must be a lawyer or paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (s. 3.1).
Is there an official form to revoke a power of attorney in Ontario?
No. Ontario's Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee says there is no special form. You state in writing that you are revoking the power of attorney, identify the document, and sign in front of two witnesses who also sign, the same way as the original.
Does a new power of attorney revoke an old one?
Yes, for the same kind of document, unless you state that you want more than one (ss. 12(1)(d) and 53(1)(c)). A new property power of attorney does not end your personal-care one, or the reverse. Give your old attorney written notice anyway, so they know to stop acting.
Can a family member revoke a power of attorney?
No. Only the person who made it can revoke it, and only while capable. A worried family member can, through a lawyer, ask the court to review the attorney's accounts (s. 42) or to appoint a guardian, or report a serious risk to the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (ss. 27 and 62).
Can a person with dementia revoke a power of attorney?
Sometimes. A diagnosis is not the test: a person can revoke if, when they sign, they are capable of giving a power of attorney (ss. 8(2) and 47(3)). The test for property is stricter than the test for personal care. Where capacity is in doubt, involve a lawyer, often with a capacity assessment, before anyone signs.
Does divorce or marriage cancel a power of attorney in Ontario?
No. Marriage, separation and divorce are not among the events that end a power of attorney under the Act (ss. 12(1) and 53(1)). If your attorney is a former spouse, the document stays in force until you revoke it, sign a new one of the same kind, or another listed event happens.
How much does it cost to revoke a power of attorney?
Nothing is filed with the government. With us, a revocation is priced like a power of attorney: $115 plus HST, plus a $60 travel fee once per trip (up to 30 km from our nearest office in Ottawa or Toronto; beyond that, an additional travel fee applies). Signed at the same visit as a new power of attorney, the two documents are $200. An additional charge applies for an additional witness.
Final Recommendation
Revoke while you can: in writing, in front of two qualified witnesses, while you are capable of making a power of attorney. If you are replacing your attorney, sign the new document at the same visit, and remember that property and personal care are separate documents. Then make sure the revocation reaches your attorney and every institution that holds the old one, and keep proof. If you are updating your will as well, see our guide to a codicil to a will in Ontario.
Book Your Appointment
Need a power of attorney revocation witnessed, or a new power of attorney signed at the same visit? Minute Notary witnesses both in person, on a mobile visit.
- Contact us: Ask a question or request a visit
- Call: (613) 434-5555
- Service page: Power of attorney
- Free template (for a new POA): Power of attorney for property
- Related guide: Continuing power of attorney for property
- Hours: Every day, Saturday and Sunday included, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Ottawa time)
Sources
- Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 (Ontario), ss. 3.1, 8, 10–13, 22, 27, 42, 47, 48, 50, 52, 53, 55 and 62
- Powers of Attorney Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.20 (Ontario), s. 3
- Health Care Consent Act, 1996 (Ontario), s. 32
- Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee: Powers of Attorney, Questions and Answers (PDF)
- Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee: A Guide to the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 (PDF)
- Government of Ontario: Make a power of attorney
This article was written using AI.
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About the author
Kai Mai
Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer, Minute Notary
Kai Mai writes and edits the Minute Notary guides, working from the published federal and Ontario guidance each article links, and from what Ottawa clients actually run into with certified copies, affidavits, statutory declarations, travel consent letters, and immigration paperwork. These guides are general information written by our editorial team — not legal advice, and not a professional opinion on your document. The receiving authority always has the final say.