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An authorization letter allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf. It can grant one-time permission or set a specific period during which the recipient has the authority to execute those duties.
Any adult can write a letter of authorization to pass authority to another adult. It’s useful when you can’t be present to make a purchase, attend court hearings, or make medical decisions for a child, among other situations. When the authorization period expires, the person loses the permissions you granted them. You may draft a new letter to continue using their help.
For the authorization letter to be acceptable and binding, ensure critical elements are present, accurately dated, and signed by yourself and the recipient. Depending on the complexities of the task you are delegating, consider consulting a lawyer to review the letter or notarizing it, although that’s not always necessary. You remain legally responsible for your representative’s decisions, so choose a reliable and trustworthy agent.
Before starting your letter of authorization, review the information below. It explores elements of a good letter of authority, when you may use one, and how to make yours legal.
A Letter of Authorization is a tool that gives authority to someone to act on your behalf. It’s an agreement between you and your designated agent informing relevant parties of your decision. The letter is a legal document that should be formal for the reader to act on its directives. Typing, instead of handwriting, also makes it more admissible.
Keep it short. You don’t need to go into the nitty-gritty of your life and reasons for not being there in person. However, the letter should be specific to avoid confusing readers or allowing room for misuse. Keep the tone professional but never demanding. It must contain the following information:
An authorization letter can be a lifesaver when you cannot fulfill your obligations.
You can use an authorization letter to permit a coworker to perform your duties when you cannot. Official communication is crucial, especially if you grant them access to documents or files they usually don’t work with.
You can grant another adult powers to temporarily operate and manage your bank accounts. You may have traveled for work or been admitted to the hospital. Whatever the reason, leave such duties to a financially responsible person.
When you delegate the collection of documents —whether personal or for work, the person you send must prove in writing that they have your permission. The person will acknowledge the receipt of the documents on your behalf.
You must be on time to file court papers. Missing deadlines sometimes leads to default judgments that could be too costly. A letter of authorization allows someone to perform those duties on your behalf if you are too far away or too committed elsewhere to do so yourself.
You can let a junior coworker you trust make decisions in your absence so the business runs smoothly. Such decisions as negotiating agreements, signing contracts, and making purchases require official communication so your partners know the individual represents you.
If you need to travel but cannot make the dates, you may let someone else travel on your behalf with a letter that shows they have your permission.
You may need to grant a teacher or school nurse permission to make medical decisions for your child when they are away on school trips or other functions. Authorizing a responsible adult in such situations can save your child’s life in an emergency.
Permitting minors to travel without you may require other documents, such as a Consent Letter from the other parent and sometimes a doctor’s approval. For issues involving children below the age of majority, consult your lawyer or use another more appropriate form. Browse the Easy Legal Docs’ free legal document templates for the best fit.
Legally delegating your duties is a serious step that you should consider carefully. Although another individual acts in your absence, you remain responsible for the agent’s actions. Easy Legal Docs‘ Letter of Authorization template is concise and versatile. You can use it with minimum modifications in any situations discussed here. You may download it for free at any time.
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