Once a power of attorney is in place and active, ongoing paperwork for the person who granted it — the principal — often gets signed by the agent instead, acting under that authority. This trips people up more than expected, because the notarization procedure looks different from what families usually picture.
Who’s actually signing
When an agent signs on the principal’s behalf, the signature line and the notarial certificate both need to clearly reflect that relationship — typically something like the agent’s name, followed by “as agent for [principal’s name] under power of attorney.” This isn’t just formatting; it’s a legally meaningful distinction that shows exactly whose authority produced the signature.
What I need to see at the appointment
- The original power of attorney document, or a certified copy, showing the agent’s authority is current and covers this type of transaction
- The agent’s own valid identification — the agent is the one being identified, since they’re the one physically signing
- Confirmation that the POA hasn’t been revoked and, where relevant to the document, that the principal is still living (this matters because a POA’s authority typically ends at death, unlike a will)
What if the POA doesn’t clearly cover this transaction?
Powers of attorney can be broad or narrowly limited to specific powers. If it’s not clear from the document that the agent has authority for the specific transaction in front of us, that’s a reason to pause and get clarity — ideally from the attorney who drafted the POA — before proceeding. Signing beyond the scope of a limited POA can make the resulting document vulnerable to challenge later.
An agent signing under a valid POA isn’t a workaround or a special exception — it’s exactly what the document was created to allow. Getting the paperwork worded correctly is what makes that authority hold up.
Bring the POA to every appointment
If you’re regularly signing on a family member’s behalf, keep a copy of the POA on hand for every notarization going forward — it’s far easier than tracking it down under time pressure the day of an appointment.
Signing under an existing power of attorney?
Bring the POA document and we’ll confirm it covers what you need before we begin.