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You are here: Home > Planning for the Future > Making Personal Decisions > Supported Decision-Making Authorization

Supported Decision-Making Authorization

Sometimes adults who still have capacity would benefit from the help of a person they trust when making or communicating decisions about personal matters.

Adults can sign a form called a Supported Decision-Making Authorization. The adult who prepares this form is called the supported adult. The person who assists the supported adult is called the supporter. A supported adult can name up to three supporters in a Supported Decision-Making Authorization.

This arrangement may be helpful where:

  • a capable adult faces difficult decisions and wants a supporter’s help in working through the decision-making process
  • a capable adult has difficulty communicating in English and wants a supporter to help communicate their decisions to other people
  • a capable adult has other communication difficulties
  • a capable adult has mild disabilities
  • a capable adult needs help for a little while due to a temporary condition

If you are considering a Supported Decision-Making Authorization and you have not yet completed a Personal Directive, you may also think about preparing a Personal Directive. A Personal Directive comes into effect when you lose capacity to make decisions about personal matters.


Making a Supported Decision-Making Authorization

There is no formal court process to make a Supported Decision-Making Authorization. The Supported Decision-Making Authorization form is available from the Public Guardian, either online or at one of their offices.

The supported adult and their supporter(s) must:

  • agree to the Authorization, and
  • sign the Authorization in front of a witness. (The witness must be an adult who is not named as a supporter or the supported adult and who did not sign the Authorization on behalf of the supported adult.)

The Authorization sets out what powers the supporter has. A supported adult can authorize a supporter to:

  • access, collect or get information from any person that relates to the decision being made
  • help the supported adult to access, collect or get information from any person that relates to the decision being made
  • help the supported adult understand the information relating to the decision being made
  • help the supported adult make a decision, or
  • communicate or help the supported adult communicate the decision to another person.

Once the Authorization is complete, the supported adult and each supporter should keep a copy of it. The supported adult and the supporter(s) may need to show the Authorization to others as proof of the arrangement. The Authorization is not registered anywhere.


Ending a Supported Decision-Making Authorization

The supported adult can cancel an Authorization by completing a Termination of Supported Decision-Making Authorization form. The supported adult must have capacity in order to complete the termination form.

An Authorization automatically ends if one of the following happens:

  • the supported adult’s capacity decreases and the court appoints a co-decision maker
  • the supported adult loses capacity and the court appoints a guardian (if the supported adult does not have a Personal Directive), or
  • the supported adult’s Personal Directive comes into effect.

For more information:

  • CPLEA’s Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship booklet
  • Government of Alberta: Supported Decision-Making
  • Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
  • Help with Decision Making
  • Capacity and Capacity Assessments
  • Making Personal Decisions
    • Personal Directives
    • Supported Decision-Making Authorization
    • Co-Decision-Making Orders
    • Guardianship
  • Making Financial Decisions
  • Estate Planning
  • Resources
The information on this site applies in Alberta only.

Contact Us

Email: Contact CPLEA

Territory Acknowledgement

The Centre for Public Legal Education respectfully acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 territories, the traditional lands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

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