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Certificate of Authority
Free certificate of authority template — confirms an individual's authorization to act, sign, or transact on behalf of a company or organization.
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This free certificate of authority covers Scope of Authority, Basis of Authority, Duration, Verification with 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Certificate of Authority
Company/Organization: [Name] · Date: [Date]
This certifies that [Individual Name], holding the position of [Title], is duly authorized by [Company/Organization Name] to:
Scope of Authority
[Specific authorized actions — e.g. "sign contracts on behalf of the Company up to $[Amount]," "represent the Company in negotiations with [Third Party]," "execute documents related to [specific transaction]"].
Basis of Authority
This authority is granted pursuant to [a Board resolution dated [Date] / the Bylaws, Article [X] / a Power of Attorney executed on [Date]].
Duration
This certificate of authority is effective as of [Date] and remains valid until [Date/event, or "revoked in writing"].
Verification
Third parties may rely on this certificate as evidence of the named individual's authority until they receive actual notice of its revocation or expiration.
Certified by: ______________________ Date: ____________ [Name, Title — e.g. Corporate Secretary/President]
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Note that "Certificate of Authority" also refers, in many US states, to the specific filing a foreign (out-of-state) company must make to legally do business there — if that's what you actually need, look for your state's official foreign qualification form rather than this general authorization document.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 4 standard sections: Scope of Authority, Basis of Authority, Duration, Verification
- 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Early-stage businesses
Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.
FAQ
Is this certificate of authority template really free?
Yes — this Certificate of Authority template on docstoc is free to view, edit online, and download as a PDF with no account or signup required.
What does this certificate of authority cover?
This business template includes Scope of Authority, Basis of Authority, Duration, Verification. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a general-purpose starting structure, not advice for your specific situation. Business agreements can hinge on details — state of formation, industry-specific regulation, how a dispute would actually play out — that a template can't account for. Have a business attorney review anything that involves real money or real risk before you rely on it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 11 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
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Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
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