How to Revoke a Power of Attorney in BC: Step-by-Step

Maybe you've changed your mind about who should handle your affairs, your relationship with your attorney has soured, or you suspect they're mismanaging your money. Whatever the reason, you can cancel a power of attorney in British Columbia — but simply tearing up the document doesn't do it. Revocation has specific steps, and skipping them leaves your old attorney able to keep acting. Here's how to do it properly.

First: you must still be capable

You can revoke an Enduring Power of Attorney (or a Representation Agreement) at any time while you remain mentally capable. That's the one non-negotiable condition. If you've lost the capacity to understand the decision, you can no longer revoke — which is why acting promptly matters if you have concerns about your attorney.

If the person who needs to be removed is an incapable adult's attorney and there's suspected abuse, that's a different route: anyone can report concerns to the Public Guardian and Trustee, which can investigate and apply to court.

Step 1: Write a Notice of Revocation

Revocation has to be in writing. Prepare a document — commonly called a Notice of Revocation — that clearly states:

• Your full name and that you are the adult who granted the power of attorney
• The date of the original power of attorney being revoked
• The name of the attorney whose authority you are ending
• A clear statement that you revoke the power of attorney effective immediately
• Your signature and the date

Keep it simple and unambiguous. Sign and date it. A revocation witnessed the same way as the original document (two adult witnesses, or a lawyer/notary) is the most defensible, and if you're simultaneously signing a new power of attorney, it should be witnessed to BC's standards anyway.

Step 2: Deliver it to everyone who has the old document

This is the step people miss, and it's the one that actually stops your former attorney. A revocation only takes practical effect once the people relying on the old power of attorney know about it. Deliver signed copies of the Notice of Revocation to:

• Your former attorney — and ask them to return or destroy every copy of the old document.
• Every institution holding the old power of attorney — banks, credit unions, brokerages, and any care facility or business that has it on file.
• The Land Title Office, if the EPoA was ever registered against real estate (see below).

Until a bank has your revocation on file, it may keep honouring transactions from your former attorney in good faith. Send copies by a method that creates a record, and confirm each institution has updated its files.

Step 3: Update the Land Title Office if the EPoA was registered

If your Enduring Power of Attorney was registered with the Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) for a real estate transaction, delivering a plain notice isn't enough — the land-title index has to be updated. A BC lawyer or notary files a Notice of Revocation (LTSA Form 8) through myLTSA so the record reflects that the power of attorney no longer applies. Skip this and the old registration can still appear valid to a buyer or lender.

Step 4: Sign a replacement (if you need one)

Revoking leaves a gap. If you still want someone to be able to act for you, sign a new Enduring Power of Attorney (and Representation Agreement, if relevant) at the same time, and destroy all copies of the old one. A clean replacement — new document in, old document revoked and collected — avoids any confusion about which is current. Just make sure the new one is witnessed correctly, because a botched replacement can leave you with no valid document at all.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a new document automatically cancels the old one. It helps, but you still need to formally revoke and notify institutions holding the prior version.
• Not collecting old copies. A former attorney with a copy the bank hasn't been told about is a live risk.
• Forgetting the Land Title Office. A registered EPoA stays on the record until Form 8 is filed.
• Waiting too long. Capacity can decline; revoke while you clearly still can.

Revocation is straightforward once you know the sequence: write it, deliver it everywhere, update the land title record, and replace the document if you need to. Our British Columbia Power of Attorney Kit includes Notice of Revocation guidance and notification checklists alongside the templates for a compliant replacement — so you can close out the old authority and set up the new one without leaving a gap.

See more British Columbia guides →