Wills, estates & power of attorney
Power of Attorney for Personal Care (Ontario)
Free template from Minute Notary, an Ontario notary office. An Ontario power of attorney for personal care names the person who will make health care and other personal decisions for you if you become unable to make them. Prepare it here, then sign it on paper in front of two witnesses.
No charge until a notary signs it
Word files are editable. Review any changes carefully before signing or uploading.
Also known as
- POA for personal care
- Personal care power of attorney
- Health care power of attorney (Ontario)
+2 more names
- Medical power of attorney (Ontario)
- Attorney for personal care appointment
The blanks fill themselves in as you type.
- Scope
- General template, not legal advice
- Formats
- PDF + editable Word downloads
- Builder
- Live preview as you type
Power of Attorney for Personal Care (Ontario)
A compact preview of this template
01You (the grantor)
Your full legal name
Your attorney or attorneys
Do you want to name a substitute attorney?
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL CARE
(Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, Ontario)
This power of attorney for personal care is given by me, ______, of ______.
Earlier powers of attorney for personal care
I revoke every power of attorney for personal care that I have made before this one.
My attorney
I appoint the following person or persons as my attorney for personal care:
• ______, of ______ (my ______)
Authority
I give my attorney authority to make any decision about my personal care that I am incapable of making for myself, including decisions about my health care, nutrition, shelter, clothing, hygiene and safety. This includes giving or refusing consent to treatment to which the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 applies.
When this power of attorney takes effect
My attorney may make a decision for me only when I am incapable of making that decision myself. For a treatment decision, that is when the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 allows my attorney to decide. For any other personal care decision, my attorney must have reasonable grounds to believe that I am incapable of making it.
Signature
Signed at ______________________, Ontario, on ______________________.
______________________________ |
Who may witness. Each witness must be 18 or older and must not be: any attorney or substitute attorney named above, or the spouse or partner of one; my spouse or partner; my child, or a person I have shown a settled intention to treat as my child; or a person whose property is under guardianship or who has a guardian of the person.
Signed by the grantor in our presence. We have each signed below as witnesses, in the grantor's presence.
______________________________ | ______________________________ |
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How it works
Prepare your document, one step at a time.
Answer the questions, choose the download you need, then continue with signing or booking.
Overview
About this document
- 01
What is a power of attorney for personal care?
It is a signed and witnessed document in which you, the grantor, name one or more attorneys to make personal care decisions for you. The attorney does not have to be a lawyer; most people choose a family member or close friend.
You can add wishes, instructions and restrictions. Your attorney can act only on decisions you are incapable of making at the time, and must follow wishes you expressed while capable that apply to the decision.
- 02
When you need one
Consider making one if:
- You want to choose who speaks for you if an illness or accident leaves you unable to decide.
- You have health care wishes, such as about life support, that you want written down.
- You want to name a substitute in case your first choice cannot act.
- You are 16 or older and understand what the document does.
- 03
What to include
Have these ready:
- Your full name and address.
- Each attorney's full name, address and relationship to you, and whether two or more attorneys must decide together or may act alone.
- A substitute attorney, if you want one.
- Any wishes, instructions or restrictions you want your attorney to follow.
- Two eligible witnesses for the signing.
- 04
Official source and who accepts it
The Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 sets the rules and does not require any particular form. The Ministry of the Attorney General publishes a free Powers of Attorney kit on Publications Ontario, linked from ontario.ca, which you can use instead of this template.
You sign in front of two witnesses, and each witness signs. The Act does not allow these people to witness: the attorney or 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 power of attorney witnessed by one of them is not effective unless a court declares it effective.
- 05
Common mistakes
Avoid these:
- Asking a disqualified person to witness, such as your spouse, your child or the attorney's partner.
- Naming someone who is paid to give you health care or residential, social, training or support services; the Act bars them unless they are your spouse, partner or relative.
- Leaving it unclear whether two attorneys must decide together.
- Signing it electronically. Ontario's Electronic Commerce Act, 2000 does not cover powers of attorney, so sign it on paper in ink.
- Not telling your attorney where the signed original is kept.
- 06
How to have it witnessed in Ontario
Fill in the form on this page and print the PDF. Do not sign it yet: you sign on paper in front of two eligible witnesses, and each witness then signs. The rule on who may not witness is printed above the witness lines.
A notary public can be one of your two witnesses, in person only. Book an in-person mobile visit with Minute Notary anywhere in Ontario, and bring government-issued photo ID and your second witness. If no one you know can act as a witness, tell us when you book.
Good to know
Before you fill it in.
Short notes on this template. Worth a minute before you start.
- 01
Prepared for use in Ontario. A general template, not legal advice.
- 02
Signed in person: this document is witnessed, so the notary must be physically present.
- 03
Sign in front of the notary, who witnesses your signature and applies the seal.
Frequently asked
Questions about the Power of Attorney for Personal Care (Ontario)
- How is this different from a power of attorney for property?
- A power of attorney for property covers money and assets, such as bank accounts, bills, investments and your home. A power of attorney for personal care covers decisions about your health and daily life. Many people make both. An attorney for property can usually act as soon as the document is signed unless it says otherwise, while an attorney for personal care acts only on decisions you are incapable of making.
- Who can be my attorney for personal care?
- Anyone 16 or older whom you trust, such as a family member or friend. A person paid to provide you with health care, or with residential, social, training or support services, cannot act as your attorney unless they are your spouse, partner or relative.
- Can a notary witness it, and can that be done by video?
- A notary public can be one of your two witnesses, in person; you bring the other. Ontario allows a power of attorney to be witnessed by video only when one witness is a lawyer or paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, so a notary appointment for this document is in person, on a mobile visit anywhere in Ontario.
- Do I need a lawyer?
- Not by law. You can prepare it yourself with this template or the government's free kit. Speak to a lawyer if your family situation is difficult or your wishes are complex.
- When does my attorney start making decisions?
- Only when you are incapable of making a particular decision. For treatment, the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 decides when your attorney can consent for you. For other decisions, your attorney must have reasonable grounds to believe you are incapable.
- How do I cancel it later?
- Sign a written revocation in front of two eligible witnesses, the same way you signed the power itself. Making a new power of attorney for personal care also ends the earlier one, unless the new one says you intend to keep both.
Keep exploring
Related templates
Other documents for wills, estates & power of attorney.
- 01Personal Care Power of Attorney
Write your own power of attorney in our free online form, then sign it in person with witnesses. Start online; powers of attorney have important legal effects, so legal advice is recommended.
Fill it out - 02Continuing Power of Attorney for Property
A continuing power of attorney for property lets someone manage your finances, including if you become incapable. Prepare it online and sign in person with witnesses. Obtain legal advice.
Fill it out - 03Revocation of Power of Attorney (Ontario)
A written revocation that cancels an Ontario power of attorney for property or for personal care. Prepare it here, sign it in front of two witnesses, then give copies to your attorney and anyone who relied on the old document.
Fill it out - 04Non-Continuing Power of Attorney
A non-continuing (limited) power of attorney lets someone manage your financial matters for a limited time or purpose, ending if you become incapable. Prepare it online; we witness or notarize it in person if a receiver asks. Obtain legal advice.
Fill it out
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