How to use a power of attorney at the bank in Ontario
A step-by-step guide for Ontario attorneys: what the bank will ask for, how long the review takes, what to do if the bank says no, and mistakes to avoid.
Stage 3: When you step in
Take over finances
You might be here if: It's time for you to manage the accounts, and the bank wants to see the power of attorney.
This is the handover: the point where you stop helping and start managing. Often it follows a fall, a hospital stay, or a diagnosis, and it can arrive suddenly.
In Ontario, the document that lets you manage a parent's money is usually a continuing power of attorney for property, and the person it names is called the attorney. Having the document is only the first step. Each bank, investment firm, pension plan, and government office has its own process for accepting it.
The guides here walk through that process step by step: what to bring, who to call, what to expect, and what to do when an institution says no.
Guides for this stage
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