How to write a power of attorney letter
Most of the time you do not need a notary to let someone collect a parcel, a certificate or a registered letter on your behalf. You need a signed page that names them, names the task, and stops there. The whole skill is in the stopping.
Name yourself and the person you are authorising, with dates of birth and ID numbers where the office will check them. State precisely what they may do, for how long, then sign and date it. Give them the signed letter and a copy of your ID.
Fill in the free templateStep by step
- Identify yourself fully
Full name, address, date of birth and, where the office asks for it, your ID number. This is the part a counter clerk checks against your identity document.
- Identify the person you authorise
Their full name, and their ID number if the office requires one. Whoever presents the letter will be asked to prove they are the person named in it.
- Say exactly what they may do
One sentence per task: collect this parcel at that office, sign for this delivery, request this certificate. A narrow authority is what makes the letter safe to hand over.
- Set the dates, sign and hand it over
A start and an end date keep the authority from outliving its purpose. Sign, date, and give them the original together with a copy of your ID.
Write it narrow, not broad
A letter that authorises someone to 'handle my affairs' is both more than you meant and less useful than you think: it invites refusal at the counter, because the clerk cannot tell whether it covers what is being asked.
Name the task. If there are three tasks, list the three. A specific authority is accepted more readily, and it cannot be reused for something you never agreed to.
Where a private letter is not enough
Selling property, signing before a notary, running a bank account, acting for someone who has lost capacity — these need a formal instrument drawn up by a notary or registered with an authority, and the rules differ from country to country.
A private power of attorney also stops working the moment the person who signed it loses capacity, which is precisely when families discover they needed the other kind. If that is the situation, this template is not the right document.
End it before it ends you
An authority with no end date is still running years later, in a drawer, in a form the person you trusted may no longer be. Put an end date on it, even a generous one.
You can revoke it at any time, but revocation only works once it is known: tell the person in writing, and tell the office that holds the letter. Keeping a copy of what you signed is what makes that possible.
Frequently asked questions
Does a power of attorney letter need to be notarised?
For everyday errands, usually not: a signed letter with a copy of your ID is what counters accept. For property, notarial acts or banking, a notarised or registered instrument is normally required.
Should I attach a copy of my ID?
Yes, and it is often required. Write on the copy what it is for and the date, so it cannot easily be reused elsewhere.
How do I cancel one?
Write to the person, saying the authority is withdrawn from a given date, and tell whoever relies on it. Ask for the original letter back and keep your proof of both.