Sample Authorization Letter to Sign Documents on My Behalf

As a signatory of different documentation, it is relatively common to find yourself in situations where you have to authorize someone else to sign the documents on your behalf because you’re unavailable to sign the documents yourself. This practice is applicable in most formal situations, such as signing lease agreements, accessing bank account documents, etc. Therefore, in a situation where you want particular documents to be signed in your absence, you can appoint someone through an authorization letter to sign those documents on your behalf.

It can be limited to certain documents within a specific domain in the workplace or at home, such as closing a business transaction, releasing medical records, withdrawing money, or any other circumstances that require your say-so. This article will discuss what is an authorization letter to sign documents and how to create and use it appropriately.

An authorization letter to sign documents is a formal document with the intention to communicate that a person has transferred their authority to sign certain documents to another party for a specified period. The letter should identify the authorizing and the party authorized to sign documents, also referred to as a representative. Most authorization letters to sign documents will have a validity lapse or period after which the authority can be renewed or terminated.

Sample 01

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Sample 06

Templates

Template 01

Template 02

Template 03

Template 04

Template 05

Template 06

For someone to sign legal documents on behalf of another party, they must have explicit authorization from the authorizing party and not implied. Ordinarily, this authorization will have to be put in writing. This is seen when sensitive documents and contracts with grave implications are involved. Therefore, if you have appointed someone to sign documents on your behalf, expect the business, bank, hospital, government, and involved parties such as landlords to request an authorization letter to sign documents.

Involved parties

The entire process of having a representative access documents and sign them through an authorization letter involves three parties.

They include:

The first or primary party:

The first party is the principal signatory of the document and bears the original rights who transfers the authority to another party for some specific period.

The second party:

This is the person or entity the first party is dealing with or transacting with. The second party can be a business party, another business, bank, credit card company, etc. 

The third party:

They are also referred to as the authorized party or representative of the first party and assume the authorities assigned to them through the authorization letter. 

As earlier stated, an authorization letter to permit someone else to sign documents on your behalf is a formal document and should therefore be formatted and structured as such. Despite the discrepancies between different authorization letters, the fundamental items that ought to appear on the letter are below:

Header

Start the letter by providing a formal header that identifies the sender and the recipient. A header lets the recipient immediately know precisely who is addressing them. The following information should be incorporated in the header:

• Your name, address, and contact details: Provide your identification by including your official name and contact details. It is imperative to ensure this information matches the information provided in the documents being signed.
• Date: An authorization letter to sign documents has to be dated. This marks the effective date of the authorization.
• Recipient’s name, address, and contact details: The letter should also identify the person or entity being addressed by the authorizing party. Indicate the recipient’s name and contact information. Format this information the same as your personal information.
• The subject of the letter: Next item is the letter’s subject. A short but comprehensive subject should be provided, letting the recipient know the letter’s purpose.
• Professional greetings: The header should be finalized by adding a formal greeting as a professional courtesy.

Introduction

The next item on the authorization letter to sign documents is an introductory paragraph that declares you are authorizing the named party to sign documents on your behalf. The paragraph can take up a few lines; two to three will typically be sufficient.

For example:

I, Matt Hannigan, hereby authorize Mrs. Bernice Hannigan to sign all documents associated with my savings account, A/c Number 4255 3792 0002 8333, at Diamond Suite Bank, on my behalf.

Body

After the introduction, get into details in the body of the letter. Discuss all the relevant details the second party ought to be aware such as limitations of the authorization letter and the duration of representation.

 You must consider discussing the following information:

Duties assigned to the representative with their name: Firstly, indicate the duties assigned to the named representative explicitly to avoid misinterpretation, confusion, and overstepping of powers. The duties will usually be based on your preference and vary from one situation to another. 

Mention the authorized and unauthorized documents: Next, list the documents the named party is allowed to access, and which documents they are unauthorized to access. Again, this will usually be up to you unless some laws and policies permit or prohibit access to certain documents.

Time duration for the authorization: The authorization letter then indicates its effectiveness’s start and end dates. Again, the dates should be precisely indicated, showing the day, month, and year.

Reason for the authorization: You should then state your reasons for appointing a representative to sign documents on your behalf. People are allowed to appoint representatives for a wide variety of reasons such as unavailability due to travels, the urgency of signatures, and as a means of sharing official duties. You can even authorize someone to undertake actions on your behalf as a preparation strategy for unforeseen scenarios such as incapacitation and death.

Details of the authorized representative: The authorization letter should also provide the authorized party’s essential identification and verification details. This includes attaching identity documents such as identity cards, social security numbers, etc.

Provide your contact details in case of query: At the end of the body of the letter, provide your contact information the recipient can use to reach you in case of queries and verification purposes.

For example:

In addition to signing any due diligence documents, if there are any, Mrs. Hannigan can make withdrawals and deposits to my bank account. However, she shall be limited from accessing the bank statement, which I request be sent directly. This authorization letter shall start on 23/01/20xx and remain effective up to 23/01/20xx. I’m currently unable to avail myself in-person to carry out the specified actions due to my business commitments outside the country.

The following details can be used for verification purposes:

Authorized person – Bernice Hunt Hannigan
Identification type – Passport or identity card
Identification card number – 2478233
Hand-written signature (compare with the sample given at the bottom)

Attached is a copy of their identity card for verification purposes.

My mobile number is 1440 2762 4017 001. Kindly do not hesitate to call for any queries or concerns

Closing

The letter can be concluded by appreciating the recipient with a thank you declaration followed by a complimentary close and, finally, signatures. The authorizing and authorized parties should both sign the document. The authorization letter to sign documents should also be witnessed – a notary public will be the most preferred witness. I appreciate your understanding of the circumstances at hand.

Tip: Authorization letters are formal documents and must be typed and not hand-written. Typed documents are legible and have a more professional outlook. The letter also ought to be notarized. The government entrusts a notary public to verify the identity of signatories of documents and establish that the signatories signed willingly without external influence. The authenticity of a notarized letter of authorization to sign documents is less questioned.

Authorization Letter Templates & Samples

The letter can be notarized like shown in the given templates and samples, more so in formal situations where legal ramifications are probable, and the document’s authenticity has to be carefully verified. The notary public acknowledgment statement assures the second party that the authorizing party appointed the authorized party under their own will and not under duress.

Tip: Legalese, used to refer to the act of appointing another person to sign legally significant documents, is known as procuration – implying the specified party will act as proxy on your behalf with authority given to them. A letter of authorization to sign documents will typically be used when appointing someone for a limited/specific purpose. For example, suppose you award the proxy or agent unlimited power or authority to sign all legal documents on your behalf. In that case, this gives the representative a power of attorney, meaning they can act on your behalf on all legal duties. Therefore, it is best to clarify the duties transferred to the representative in the letter.

Conclusion

In order to officially grant another party the right to sign documents on your behalf, you must grant them authority in writing through an authorization letter to sign documents. In the letter, you must explicitly declare you are granting them permission to sign documents on your behalf and indicate the limitations of this authority. Authorization letters to sign documents are useful tools when you are unavailable to sign documents in person for reasons such as travel for vacation, job deployments to distant regions, etc. The letter should be brief and precise and can be prepared using an authorization letter to sign documents template. You can also refer to samples of an authorization letter to sign documents like the one provided in this article to guide you as you craft your letter.

About This Article

Authored by:

Maria Latimer

U.S. Licensed Attorney - Commercial Civil Litigation, Employment and Labor Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property Protection and Counseling

Maria Latimer stands as a meticulously detail-oriented attorney, deeply entrenched in the multifaceted realms of the U.S. legal framework. With expertise spanning business formation and structures, she is adept at commercial civil litigation, navigating the intricacies of employment and labor law, and addressing delicate family matters, particularly in divorce and prenuptial contexts. Additionally, Maria's proficiency in intellectual property ensures robust protection and insightful counseling. Her portfolio is a testament to her versatility and depth, comprising a plethora of contracts she has crafted, ranging from Consulting and Operating Agreements to more nuanced documents like Non-solicitation and Confidentiality Agreements. From Website Privacy Policies to intricate Licensing and Financing Agreements, Maria's comprehensive expertise ensures that she remains a leading figure in the legal landscape, offering unparalleled expertise across her practice areas.