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Restricted delivery is an add-on for certified or registered mail that limits delivery to one named person, or to someone they authorized in writing. The carrier checks ID at the door and will not hand the letter to a spouse, roommate, or coworker. Lawyers, landlords, and anyone serving formal notices use it when the recipient's identity matters.
Ordinary certified mail proves a letter was sent and delivered, but not to whom. Any adult at the address can sign. Restricted delivery closes that gap: the carrier may only deliver to the addressee named on the piece, and must verify identity before handing it over. If the named person is not available, the carrier leaves a notice and the item waits at the post office, just like other signature items.
The other permitted recipient is an authorized agent: someone the addressee designated in writing to accept mail on their behalf. A verbal "my husband can sign for me" at the door does not count. The authorization has to exist in writing, which is a detail that surprises people the first time a carrier refuses to hand over a restricted piece to a spouse.
Whenever the identity of the recipient matters as much as the fact of delivery. The classic cases: eviction and lease notices from landlords, demand letters from lawyers, HR actions like terminations, and court-related correspondence where the rules require personal delivery to a specific party.
There is a strategic angle too. Some recipients dodge important mail by having a household member sign for everything. Restricted delivery defeats that: the signature on the green card belongs to the named person, which makes "I never got it" much harder to argue. Some courts and agencies specifically require restricted delivery for certain notices, so check the rules that govern your situation before choosing the cheaper option.
A knock, an ID check, and a signature. That is the whole event. If the recipient is not home, the notice slip works the same as other certified mail: pickup at the post office with ID within the hold period, or redelivery scheduled for a time they will be there. The item cannot be left in the mailbox or with a neighbor, even at the recipient's request at the door.
Canada Post's Registered Mail includes signature on delivery with identity confirmation options, and senders can add instructions like "do not forward" to keep the item from being redirected. The exact product names differ from the US, but the concept is the same: a service tier where the carrier verifies who is signing. If you are mailing to a Canadian address and need this level of control, ask at the counter or through your mailing service which options combine signature with identity verification.
Restricted delivery carries an extra fee on top of certified or registered postage, which is already above regular mail. Whether it is worth it depends on what is at stake. For a rent reminder, it is overkill. For a notice whose legal validity depends on the right person receiving it, the extra fee is trivial compared to a challenged eviction or a disputed deadline.
| Service | Who can sign | ID checked | Proof you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular First-Class mail | Nobody, it just arrives | No | None |
| Certified mail | Any adult at the address | Usually not | Mailing receipt plus delivery record |
| Certified with restricted delivery | Only the named addressee or their written authorized agent | Yes | Delivery record with the right person's signature |
| Registered mail | Chain-of-custody signatures at each handoff | Yes, at delivery | Full custody record plus signature |
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LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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