Can I change or revoke my power of attorney for personal care in Ontario?

Yes. You can revoke or change your power of attorney for personal care at any time, as long as you have the mental capacity to do so. Capacity for this purpose means the ability to understand what the document is, what it does, and what revoking it means.

To revoke a power of attorney for personal care in Ontario, you must do so in writing, signed and witnessed by one person. This is different from the two-witness requirement for creating the original document. The revocation should identify the document being revoked and state clearly that it is cancelled. You should then notify your attorney that their authority has ended.

Simply telling your attorney that you no longer want them to act, or making a new power of attorney without expressly revoking the old one, may not be sufficient. Courts and health care providers may be unaware of informal changes. Creating a clear written revocation and distributing copies to anyone who might rely on the old document — including your health care providers and hospital — is the safest approach.

You can also change your attorney by revoking the current document and signing a new one. If you want to update your wishes rather than change your attorney, you can update your wishes document without needing to revoke the underlying power of attorney. A lawyer can help you make changes cleanly and ensure the right people are notified.