Authorization Letter

An authorization letter is a written document in which you give another person explicit, time-limited permission to act on your behalf for a specific purpose. It names you (the authorizer), the person you are empowering (the authorized party), the task they may carry out, and the start and end dates of that authority.

Common uses include picking up documents from a government office, collecting parcels, dealing with a bank or utility company, enrolling a child in school, or representing you at a business meeting. The letter is presented by the authorized person, along with their own photo ID, to prove they have your permission.

An authorization letter is not the same as a Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney is a formal legal instrument governed by specific legislation (the Substitute Decisions Act for personal care, or common law for property) and grants broad, ongoing authority. An authorization letter is narrower: it covers one task or a short list of tasks, for a limited time.

If you need someone to manage your finances, sell real property, or make health care decisions on your behalf, you need a Power of Attorney drafted with independent legal advice, not a simple letter.

The more specific and complete the letter is, the more likely the receiving institution will accept it without pushback. Our template collects everything you need in one sitting.

There is no general legal requirement to notarize an authorization letter in Ontario. However, the institution receiving the letter (a bank, government office, insurance company, school, or landlord) may require or strongly prefer a notarized copy as proof that you genuinely signed it.

Notarization means the notary checks your government-issued photo ID, confirms you understand the authority you are granting, watches you sign, and applies the official seal. The authorized person does not need to be present at the appointment.

If you decide to have the letter notarized, gather the following before your visit. The appointment itself is quick once everything is in order.

You can cancel the authorization at any time by notifying the receiving institution in writing and, ideally, retrieving the original letter. If the letter was notarized, it is wise to provide a new notarized revocation letter to the institution for their records.

If you need to extend the dates or change the scope, prepare a new letter rather than altering the original. Institutions are unlikely to accept a letter with handwritten corrections.