Power of Attorney Planning Kit
Organize your wishes for both powers of attorney, for property and for personal care, in one printable worksheet. It fills in as you type and saves privately on your own device, ready to take to a lawyer or to complete your province's official form.
This is a planning worksheet, not a legal document.
Filling it in does not create a power of attorney. The rules differ by province, and a power of attorney only becomes valid when it is prepared and signed correctly, usually with witnesses. Use this to organize your wishes, then have a lawyer (or a notary in Quebec) prepare the documents, or complete your province's official form.
Everything you enter stays on this device, saved in your browser only. We never see it or store it. Print a copy to take to your lawyer, or to talk through with family.
Power of Attorney Planning Worksheet
Prepared with Senior Care Path · · A planning aid, not a legal document
About you
Power of attorney for property (finances)
The person who could manage your money, bills, and property if you became unable to.
Your first choice
Backup / alternate
Power of attorney for personal care (health)
The person who could make health and personal-care decisions and speak for your wishes. Called a personal directive, representation agreement, or protection mandate in some provinces.
Your first choice
Backup / alternate
How to make it official
- Talk with the people you would name, so they are willing and understand your wishes.
- Have a lawyer (or a notary in Quebec) prepare the documents, or use your province's official power of attorney form.
- Sign it with the witnesses your province requires. This step is what makes it legal.
- Give copies to your attorneys and keep the original somewhere safe and findable.
- Review it every few years, and after any big change in your life or wishes.
Your lawyer and documents
Frequently asked questions
- Does this create a legal power of attorney?
- No. It is a planning worksheet to help you organize your wishes, not a legal document. A power of attorney only becomes valid when it is prepared and signed correctly for your province, usually with witnesses. Take your completed worksheet to a lawyer, or use it alongside your province's official form.
- What is the difference between a power of attorney for property and one for personal care?
- A power of attorney for property lets someone manage your finances, bills, and property if you cannot. A power of attorney for personal care (called a personal directive, representation agreement, or protection mandate in some provinces) lets someone make health and personal-care decisions. Most people set up both.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a power of attorney in Canada?
- Not always, but it is strongly recommended, especially for anything beyond the simplest situation. Rules and forms differ by province, and a document that is signed or witnessed incorrectly can be invalid when your family needs it most. In Quebec, a notary handles these documents.
- When does a power of attorney take effect?
- It depends on how it is written. Some take effect as soon as they are signed, and others (often called springing) only take effect if you become unable to make decisions. The worksheet lets you note your preference so you can discuss it with your lawyer.
- Is anything I enter here saved or shared?
- No. Everything you type stays on your own device, in your browser only. We never see it or store it. You can print or save a PDF to take to your lawyer or talk through with family, and clear it from the device whenever you like.
Want a hand with any of this?
Our advisors offer free, confidential guidance for your family's situation.