“Can a Notarized Letter Give Me Legal Authority? What You Need to Know”

Published On: July 1, 2025
 Author: Susana , Notary Public
As a mobile notary public, I often receive calls from caring family members, usually older adults looking to help a loved one with finances or caregiving. A common request I hear:
"Can I write a letter and get it notarized so I can take care of things for my relative?"
It’s a heartfelt question, but unfortunately, a notarized letter isn’t a legal shortcut to authority over someone else’s money or care.
Let’s clear up what notarization can do and what it can’t.
What Does a Notarized Letter Do?
A notarized letter simply confirms three things:

• The person who signed the letter appeared in front of a notary.
  
• They proved their identity with proper ID.
  
• They signed the document willingly and understood what it said.
  

That’s it. It does not make the content of the letter legally enforceable.
What a Notarized Letter Does Not Do
A notarized letter does not:

• Grant you legal authority over someone’s finances.
  
• Override Power of Attorney (POA), a will, or a trust.
  
• Allow you access to someone else’s bank accounts.
  

Replace legal documents that need to be created by a lawyer.
A Real-Life Example
I recently spoke with a 75-year-old woman who wanted to create a notarized letter that would let her withdraw money from her brother’s ATM account to pay his caretaker.
She meant well  but her brother’s adult son already had Power of Attorney. In that case, a notarized letter wouldn’t be valid with the bank, and could even lead to legal trouble if misused.
 When You Do Need Legal Documents
If you’re helping a family member who:

• Needs help managing their money
  
• Wants to appoint someone to make decisions for them
  
• Has adult children or multiple caregivers involved
  

…you need to talk to an estate planning or elder law attorney. They can create valid legal tools like:

• Power of Attorney (POA)
  
• Advance healthcare directives
  
• Living trusts
  
• Guardianship or conservatorship (if needed)
  
  Notaries Cannot Give Legal Advice
  As a notary, I’m here to protect the integrity of documents not to decide or advise what’s legal. I’ll always be honest and cautious with you, especially when I notice a situation that might need more than just a notarized letter.
   Final Words
  If you're unsure whether a notarized letter is the right step, reach out. I’m happy to explain the notarization process and when it's appropriate. For anything that affects money, legal authority, or care decisions, talk to an attorney first or 
  Important Tip: If you cannot afford an attorney, the most cost-effective alternative is to use the services of a Legal Document Assistant (LDA). LDAs are registered professionals who can legally prepare legal documents at your direction, helping ensure your documents are correctly formatted and meet legal requirements.

Always make sure you understand what type of document you need and how it must be executed to ensure it's legally valid and enforceable.
Have questions about notarizing a document?
Contact me today for honest, professional help.
 Ready to schedule a notarization?