Estate request template

Power of attorney signing request template

A power of attorney lets a principal authorise an attorney to act on their behalf; this request collects the required signatures from each party.

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What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a document by which one person, the principal, authorises another person, the attorney, to make decisions or act on their behalf, often for financial or property matters. Depending on the type, the authority can be general or enduring, and it may begin immediately or only if the principal loses capacity. Getting each party to sign correctly is essential, because the document has no effect until it is properly executed.

Powers of attorney carry significant responsibility, so accuracy in signing matters. The principal, the attorney accepting the role, and any required witness each play a distinct part, and missing a signature or witnessing step can invalidate the document. Cosign helps you route the document to each signer and track progress, but it does not prepare the power of attorney or replace legal advice on which type you need.

When to use a power of attorney

Sending a prepared power of attorney to the principal for signing
Collecting an attorney's signed acceptance of their appointment
Routing the document to a witness for the required attestation
Tracking signatures across multiple parties in one estate matter

What to include in a power of attorney

Principal details: full legal name and the authority being granted.
Attorney details: name of the person appointed and scope of their powers.
Type and timing: whether it is general or enduring, and when it takes effect.
Signing and witnessing blocks: clearly marked sections for each required party.
Acceptance by attorney: confirmation the attorney agrees to act in the role.

Pros and cons of sending a power of attorney as a signing request

Pros

Routes one document to the principal, attorney, and witness in order
Tracks each signature so you know exactly what is outstanding
Private link avoids exposing sensitive authority details by email
Completion receipt records when each party signed the document

Cons and things to watch

Enduring powers of attorney often require in-person witnessing by state
Witness eligibility rules vary and can disqualify some signers
Electronic signing may not satisfy every jurisdiction's requirements
Does not replace legal advice on the right type of authority

How to send a power of attorney with Cosign

Upload the prepared power of attorney and preview it to confirm all signing blocks are present.
Add the principal, attorney, or witness as signers so each signs the correct section.
Set a 14-day expiry and apply password protection to keep the authority details secure.
Send the private link, monitor signing status, and save the completion receipt with your estate file.

Power of attorney request details

Email subject

Power of attorney signing request

Default message

Please review this power of attorney document and sign where required.

Signer setup

Principal, attorney, or witness

Suggested expiry

14 days

Button label

Review and sign

Best fit

Estate teams

Power of attorney FAQs

Are electronically signed powers of attorney valid in Australia?

It depends on the type and the state. General financial powers can often be signed electronically, but enduring powers of attorney frequently require specific in-person witnessing under state law. Confirm the requirements with a solicitor before relying on electronic signing.

Who needs to sign a power of attorney?

Typically the principal granting the authority, the attorney accepting it, and one or more witnesses. The exact requirements depend on the document type and your state or territory.

Is the document kept private when I send it through Cosign?

Yes. The power of attorney is shared only via a private link to the people you nominate, and the pages are not indexed by search engines. No one without the link can access it.

Can I send the document to several parties at once?

Yes. You can add the principal, attorney, and witness as signers and track each signature separately, with reminders if someone has not yet signed.

What if the attorney declines the appointment?

An attorney can decline rather than sign. In that case the document is not fully executed, and you may need to nominate a different attorney and resend the request.