Letter of Authority UK — What It Is and How to Get One Notarised
Need someone to act on your behalf with a supplier, financial institution, or government body? A letter of authority gives them the permission they need — and notarisation ensures it carries real weight.
What Is a Letter of Authority?
A letter of authority (LOA) is a signed document that gives a named person or organisation permission to act on your behalf for a specific, limited purpose. Unlike a power of attorney, a letter of authority does not grant decision-making power — it simply authorises the named party to access information, collect documents, or communicate with a third party on your behalf.
Letters of authority are widely used in the UK across energy, financial services, real estate, corporate, and government sectors. They are quicker and less formal than a power of attorney, making them ideal when all you need is for someone to gather information or handle an administrative task.
If the receiving party requires proof that the signature is genuine — or if the letter will be used overseas — having it notarised by a notary public adds legal credibility and is often required.
How Is a Letter of Authority Different from a Power of Attorney?
This is one of the most common questions we receive. The key distinction is scope. A letter of authority grants narrow, task-specific permission — for example, authorising an energy consultant to access your account data. A power of attorney is a formal legal instrument that allows the appointed person to make binding decisions on your behalf, including signing contracts, managing finances, and dealing with property.
| Feature | Letter of Authority | Power of Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Limited — information access, document collection | Broad — financial decisions, contracts, property |
| Formality | Simple signed letter | Formal legal deed (often registered) |
| Decision-making | No | Yes |
| Duration | Typically short-term or task-specific | Can be long-term or lasting |
| Notarisation | Recommended, sometimes required | Usually required |
If you are unsure which document you need, our notary public can advise during your appointment.
What Are the Most Common Types of Letter of Authority?
Letters of authority are used across a wide range of sectors and situations. Here are the types we notarise most frequently at our London office:
Energy & Utilities
Authorising an energy consultant to access your account data, meter readings, and contract details to compare suppliers on your behalf.
Financial Services
Permitting a financial adviser to obtain account balances, policy numbers, or historical statements from banks and insurers.
Corporate & Business
Authorising a colleague, company secretary, or external agent to deal with regulators, service providers, or procurement on the company’s behalf. See our corporate notary services for business-specific requirements.
Real Estate & Property
Authorising a solicitor, land agent, or managing agent to represent a property owner in dealings with local authorities, councils, or planning bodies.
Local Government & Council
Allowing a representative to deal with council tax, housing, benefits, adult social care, or planning enforcement on your behalf.
Child Travel Consent
A letter of authority for a child travelling abroad without one or both parents is one of the most common notarised letters we prepare. See our dedicated child travel consent form page for templates, country-specific requirements (USA, UAE, South Africa, Canada), and how to use the consent form pipeline.
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How Does the Letter of Authority Notarisation Process Work?
Three simple steps from enquiry to notarised document.
Send Your Draft
Email or upload your letter of authority. We’ll confirm the fee and book your slot.
Attend & Sign
Visit our Wigmore Street office with valid ID. Sign the letter in front of our notary.
Receive Your Document
Walk out with your notarised letter of authority — or we’ll post it same-day if needed.
Need it done urgently? We offer same-day notary appointments at our central London office.
Can I Get a Letter of Authority Notarised Online?
Yes. If you cannot attend our Wigmore Street office in person, we offer online notarisation via secure video call. The process is straightforward: you connect with our notary over a live video link, confirm your identity using valid photographic ID, and sign the letter of authority while the notary observes and completes the notarial act remotely.
Online notarisation is accepted for most domestic purposes and is particularly convenient if you are based outside London, travelling, or working to a tight deadline. The notarised document is returned to you by post or secure digital delivery, depending on your preference and the requirements of the receiving party.
There are some limitations — certain jurisdictions and institutions may specifically require in-person witnessing, and some international uses (particularly where an apostille is needed) may still require a physical appointment. Our team will advise you on whether online notarisation is suitable for your specific letter of authority when you get in touch.
What Information Must a Valid Letter of Authority Include?
For a letter of authority to be accepted by the receiving organisation, it must contain certain essential elements. Our notary will check your draft and advise on anything that needs amending before you sign.
If you are unsure how to draft your letter, you can bring a rough version to your appointment and our notary will help you get it right. We also regularly notarise statutory declarations and affidavits if a sworn statement is needed alongside your LOA.
Can a Letter of Authority Be Used Internationally?
Yes. Letters of authority are regularly used for international purposes, including authorising a representative to collect documents from a foreign embassy, dealing with overseas utility providers or landlords, and instructing a foreign lawyer or agent for non-binding administrative matters.
For international use, the receiving party will often require the letter to be notarised — and, depending on the destination country, apostilled under the Hague Convention. An apostille is a certificate issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that confirms the notary’s signature and seal are genuine. It is recognised in all countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
When Is an Apostille Required on a Letter of Authority?
An apostille is typically required when your letter of authority will be presented to a government body, court, financial institution, or official registry in a Hague Convention member country. Common scenarios include authorising a representative to deal with property matters overseas, collecting documents from a foreign consulate, or presenting the LOA to a foreign bank or insurance provider.
If the destination country is not a Hague Convention signatory, the letter may instead need to go through full legalisation — a longer process involving the FCDO and the relevant embassy. Our team can advise which route applies to your specific country and use case.
How Does the Apostille Process Work?
The process is straightforward when handled through our office. First, we notarise your letter of authority at our Wigmore Street appointment. We then submit the notarised document to the FCDO for apostille. Standard turnaround is around 10 working days; we also offer priority and express options for urgent deadlines. Once apostilled, the document is returned to you ready for use abroad. You can read more about the full process, turnaround times, and FCDO fees on our apostille service page.
Do I Need a Certified Translation as Well?
Some jurisdictions require the letter of authority (and the apostille certificate) to be accompanied by a certified translation into the official language of the receiving country. This is common in countries across continental Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia and Latin America. Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers can arrange certified notarial translation alongside the notarisation and apostille — all handled in a single workflow so you are not running between different providers.
Country-Specific Considerations
Different countries have different acceptance thresholds for letters of authority. For some — particularly in the UAE, China, and India — the legalisation process is more involved and may require embassy attestation on top of the apostille. For the USA, a notarised and apostilled letter of authority is generally accepted without further steps. We handle all major destination countries and will confirm the exact requirements when you get in touch.
Bear in mind that for more complex cross-border matters — selling property abroad, opening a foreign bank account, or granting financial decision-making power — a power of attorney is usually required rather than a letter of authority.
What Other Related Notarised Letters Do You Prepare?
Letters of authority are part of a broader family of notarised documents we prepare at our Wigmore Street office. Related letters include:
Child travel consent letters — for children travelling abroad without one or both parents. See our child travel consent form requirements page for templates and country-specific guidance.
Letter of no trace (UK) — used in adoption, immigration, and absent-parent scenarios. We can notarise a sworn declaration of no trace alongside the supporting affidavit.
Statutory declarations — sworn statements of fact used for name changes, freedom to marry, change of name, and other legal purposes. See our full statutory declaration guide for templates and requirements.
Affidavits — sworn written statements made under oath, used in court proceedings, immigration applications, and other legal matters. See our full affidavit service page for details on when an affidavit is needed and how the process works.
Learn more about what a notary public does and the full range of documents we can prepare.
Why Choose Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers?
Regulated by the Faculty Office
Our notary is appointed by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury — the regulatory body for notaries public in England and Wales.
Fixed Fees — No Hidden Costs
We quote a fixed fee upfront. No hourly billing, no surprises. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Same-Day Appointments
Urgent? We offer same-day and next-day notarisation at our Wigmore Street office, just off Oxford Street.
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Consistently rated 5 stars by clients for professionalism, speed, and clear communication.
STEP Qualified
Our principal is STEP qualified, bringing expertise in trusts, estates, and cross-border matters to every appointment.
Central London — Wigmore Street
19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH — a two-minute walk from Bond Street station.
What Our Clients Say
Rated 5 stars on Google. Here’s what clients say about our letter of authority service.
“Efficient and professional. They notarised our letter of authority for an overseas property matter the same day. Clear pricing, no fuss.”
“I needed an LOA notarised for my energy broker and wasn’t sure of the process. The team explained everything clearly and got it done quickly.”
“Great service — sorted the notarisation and apostille for my letter of authority in one go. Saved me running around.”
“Used Edward Young for a letter of authority for my financial adviser. Quick appointment, friendly staff, and the fixed fee was exactly as quoted.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Letters of Authority
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers
19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH
Phone: +44 20 7499 2605 | Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury | Member of The Notaries Society | STEP Qualified | ACSP Registered
Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:30
Need a Letter of Authority Notarised?
Fixed fees. Same-day service. Central London.