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State-by-State Living Will Requirements

Living will requirements vary significantly by state. Select your state below to learn about witness rules, notarization requirements, and the specific statutory language that applies to your advance directive.

Alabama

Advance Directive for Health Care

2 witnessesNo notary

Alaska

Advance Health Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Arizona

Living Will

1 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Arkansas

Declaration

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

California

Advance Health Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Colorado

Declaration as to Medical Treatment

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Connecticut

Living Will

2 witnessesNo notary

Delaware

Advance Health-Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notary

District of Columbia

Advance Directive

2 witnessesNo notary

Florida

Living Will

2 witnessesNo notary

Georgia

Advance Directive for Health Care

2 witnessesNo notary

Hawaii

Advance Health-Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Idaho

Advance Care Planning Document

2 witnessesNotary required

Illinois

Declaration (Living Will)

2 witnessesNo notary

Indiana

Advance Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Iowa

Declaration Relating to Use of Life-Sustaining Procedures

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Kansas

Declaration

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Kentucky

Living Will Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Louisiana

Declaration (Living Will)

2 witnessesNo notary

Maine

Advance Health Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notary

Maryland

Advance Directive

2 witnessesNo notary

Massachusetts

Health Care Proxy

2 witnessesNo notary

Michigan

Patient Advocate Designation

2 witnessesNo notary

Minnesota

Health Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Mississippi

Advance Health-Care Directive

2 witnessesNotary required

Missouri

Declaration (Living Will)

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Montana

Declaration Relating to Use of Life-Sustaining Treatment

2 witnessesNo notary

Nebraska

Declaration Relating to Use of Life-Sustaining Treatment

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Nevada

Declaration Relating to Use of Life-Sustaining Treatment

2 witnessesNo notary

New Hampshire

Advance Directive (Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care)

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

New Jersey

Advance Directive for Health Care (Instruction Directive / Proxy Directive)

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

New Mexico

Advance Health-Care Directive

0 witnessesNo notary

New York

Health Care Proxy / Living Will

2 witnessesNo notary

North Carolina

Advance Directive for a Natural Death

2 witnessesNotary required

North Dakota

Health Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Ohio

Living Will Declaration

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Oklahoma

Advance Directive for Health Care

2 witnessesNo notary

Oregon

Advance Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Pennsylvania

Advance Health Care Directive / Living Will

2 witnessesNo notary

Puerto Rico

Declaración Previa de Voluntad (Advance Statement of Will Regarding Treatment)

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Rhode Island

Declaration (Living Will)

2 witnessesNo notary

South Carolina

Living Will Declaration

2 witnessesNotary required

South Dakota

Living Will Declaration

2 witnessesNo notary

Tennessee

Living Will / Advance Directive for Health Care

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

Texas

Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

US Virgin Islands

Declaration (Living Will)

2 witnessesNo notary

Utah

Advance Health Care Directive

1 witnessesNo notary

Vermont

Advance Directive for Health Care

2 witnessesNo notary

Virginia

Advance Directive

2 witnessesNo notary

Washington

Directive to Withhold or Withdraw Life-Sustaining Treatment

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

West Virginia

Living Will

2 witnessesNotary required

Wisconsin

Declaration to Health Care Professionals

2 witnessesNo notary

Wyoming

Advance Health Care Directive

2 witnessesNo notaryNotary alt.

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Important: This tool provides a template for creating a living will based on your state's general requirements. It is not legal advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified attorney. For complex medical situations, blended families, or significant assets, we recommend having an attorney review your document.