Document guide · Power of attorney

How to notarize a power of attorney online in Canada.

A power of attorney hands someone real authority over your property or care, so it carries stricter formalities than most documents. Here is what to check before booking a remote appointment.

Bring to the appointment

The unsigned power of attorney
Government-issued photo ID
Full legal name and address of your attorney (the person you are appointing)
Any witnesses your province requires

Witnesses matter here

Several provinces require one or two witnesses in addition to the notary, and often bar your spouse, your appointed attorney, or that person’s spouse from acting as a witness. Confirm the requirement before you book.

Confirm your POA is eligible

Because POA rules vary by province and document type, we verify eligibility before you pay. Send us the details and we will confirm.

Not sure this applies to your situation? Ask us first — it’s free to check.

The main types of power of attorney

"Power of attorney" is a category, not a single document, and the type you need determines the formalities. A property or financial POA lets someone manage money, accounts, and assets. A continuing or enduring POA keeps working if you later lose capacity — that durability is exactly why it is witnessed carefully. A personal care or health POA covers medical and care decisions. A limited or specific POA grants narrow authority, such as completing one real estate transaction while you are abroad. Provinces also use different names for the same instrument, which is why we ask which one you have rather than assuming.

Can a power of attorney be notarized remotely?

In most provinces, yes — but this is the document type where we are most careful, and occasionally the answer is no. Three things drive that:

Provincial formalities. Some provinces require witnesses beyond the notary, and set rules about who is disqualified from witnessing.
The receiving institution. Banks, land registries, and investment firms often impose their own requirements, and a few still insist on wet-ink originals.
Capacity. The notary must be satisfied you understand what you are signing. That assessment happens on camera, and a notary who has doubts must decline.

Land-registry and some estate-related POAs are the most likely to need an in-person process or a lawyer. If your POA is going to a specific bank or land title office, tell us which when you book — that single detail prevents most rejected documents.

Choosing your attorney carefully

The person you appoint can, depending on the document, move money, sell property, and make decisions that are difficult to reverse. Appoint someone you trust without reservation, confirm they are willing to act, and consider naming an alternate in case your first choice cannot serve. A notary can witness your signature but cannot advise you on who to appoint or how to limit their powers — that is legal advice, and for a document this consequential it is usually worth getting.

How the appointment runs

Eligibility check. Before booking, we confirm your province, POA type, and where the document is going.
Upload the unsigned POA. The notary reviews the signature and witness blocks so nothing is missed on the call.
Identity verification. You show photo ID; your name must match the document exactly.
Witnesses join if required. Any required witnesses attend the same video call and sign in view of the notary.
Signing and sealing. You sign on camera, the notary applies their signature and seal, and the completed POA is emailed to you the same day.

If your institution wants a wet-ink original

Some banks and registries still ask for a physically signed original. A notarized PDF will not satisfy that request no matter how it was executed, so ask the receiving institution what format they accept before you book. It is a two-minute phone call that saves a wasted appointment, and we would rather tell you that honestly than sell you a session you cannot use.

What it costs

A single POA with one signer is $49.99 CAD, with additional pages or exhibits at $26 CAD each. See the cost of notarizing a power of attorney for detail, or the pricing page for general fees.

Power of attorney questions

Can I notarize a power of attorney online in Ontario?

In most cases yes, for continuing powers of attorney for property and powers of attorney for personal care. Ontario has witness requirements, and certain land-registry uses may need a different process, so we confirm your specific document first. See our Ontario page for more.

Do I need witnesses as well as the notary?

Often yes. Several provinces require one or two witnesses in addition to the notary, and typically exclude your spouse, the attorney you are appointing, and that person's spouse. We tell you exactly what your province requires before the appointment.

Can my attorney be in a different province or country?

Generally yes — the person you appoint does not need to be present or nearby to be named. What matters is where you are, where the document will be used, and the requirements of the institution that will rely on it.

Will my bank accept a remotely notarized power of attorney?

Many will, but banks set their own internal policies and some still require a wet-ink original. Ask your branch what they accept before booking; if they need an original, a remote appointment will not meet the requirement.

Can I revoke a power of attorney online?

Yes. A revocation is its own document and can usually be notarized remotely the same way. You should also notify your former attorney and any institution that relied on the original POA.

See all frequently asked questions

Have a power of attorney to sign?

We confirm your document and province qualify before you pay, so you never book an appointment you cannot use.