Authorization letter

An authorization letter tells an office that someone you trust may handle a specific task for you: collect documents, pick up a parcel, or talk to them about your account. It names the person, the task and the dates, and has a place for both signatures.

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You
Who it goes to

Printed on the letter and filled in on the send page.

The details

Be specific. A narrow task is more likely to be accepted.

Ask the office if they accept authorizations by fax, and whether the person should bring the original.

Needs a handwritten-style signature? Download it, then add one with Fill & Sign PDF and fax it from there. Want a cover sheet in front? Use the cover sheet maker and attach this PDF.

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Text in [brackets] is what is still missing.

How to use this template

  1. Step 1

    Enter your details and the full name of the person you are authorizing, as it appears on their ID.

  2. Step 2

    Describe the task in one or two plain sentences, and set the dates it is valid.

  3. Step 3

    Add the office it is going to, then download the PDF.

  4. Step 4

    Both of you sign it. Fax it ahead if the office accepts that, and give the person the original to bring along.

Tips

One task, clear dates
Offices accept a letter for "collect my transcript between May 1 and May 15" far more readily than an open-ended one. Write a new letter for each task.
Use their name as it is on their ID
The person will usually have to show ID, and a mismatch is the most common reason a letter is refused.
Some things need more than a letter
Banks, courts, property sales and medical decisions often need the office's own form, a notarized signature or a power of attorney. Ask before you rely on a letter.

Questions

Is an authorization letter the same as a power of attorney?

No. This letter asks one office to let a named person do one specific thing. A power of attorney is a formal legal document, often notarized, that gives broader authority. If the office tells you they need a power of attorney, this letter won't replace it.

Does it need to be notarized?

Usually not for everyday tasks such as picking up documents, but some offices ask for it. Check with the office; if they want it, sign it in front of a notary rather than before.

Can I cancel the authorization?

The letter says it is valid until the end date, or until you withdraw it in writing. To cancel early, send the office a short letter or fax saying so.

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