| Alabama | Advance
directive for health care needs two witnesses. Not
valid if pregnant. |
| Alaska | Needs
no witnesses. Two witnesses are required for a "health
care proxy," but this allows only general medical
decisions to be made. |
| Arizona | Witness
and notary are required for a living will, as well
as for a health care power of attorney (proxy). |
| Arkansas | Declaration
(both living will and health care proxy are included
on form) needs two witnesses. Not valid if pregnant. |
| California | Declaration
(living will) needs two witnesses, but is not valid
if pregnant. A durable power of attorney for health
care (proxy) requires two witnesses OR a notary. |
| Colorado | Declaration
as to medical or surgical treatment (living will)
requires two witnesses, but is not valid if pregnant.
Medical durable power of attorney for health care
(proxy) does not require any witnesses or notary. |
| Connecticut | Health
care instructions (are inclusive of both living
will and health care proxy) requires two witnesses,
whose signatures should be notarized. Not valid
if pregnant. Appointment of attorney-in-fact for
health care decisions (proxy) must be notarized. |
| Delaware | Advance
directive (includes provisions for both living will
and health care proxy on form) needs two witnesses. |
| District
of Columbia | Living
will needs two witnesses. Power of attorney for
health care (proxy) needs two witnesses. |
| Florida | Two
witnesses are needed for both a living will and
a designation of health care surrogate (proxy). |
| Georgia | Living
will and power of attorney requires two witnesses.
Living will is not valid if pregnant. |
| Hawaii | Living
will (Declaration) requires two witnesses and a
notary, but is not valid if pregnant. Two witnesses
and a notary required for a durable power of attorney
for health care decisions (proxy). |
| Idaho | Two
witnesses needed for a living will. Not valid if
pregnant. Two witnesses or a notary public required
for a durable power of attorney for health care
(proxy). |
| Illinois | Living
will requires two witnesses. Not valid if pregnant.
One witness needed for power of attorney for health
care (proxy). |
| Indiana | Specifies
A or B Declaration where B says you want all life-prolonging
procedures taken. Both require two witnesses. Not
valid if pregnant. Power of attorney for health
care decisions and appointment of health care representative
(proxy) requires a notary. |
| Iowa | Two
witnesses OR a notary required for a living will.
Not valid if pregnant. Power of attorney for health
care (proxy) requires two witnesses or notary. |
| Kansas | Two
witnesses or a notary required for a living will. |
| Kentucky | Advance
directive, section 2 requires two witnesses or notary.
Not valid if pregnant. Section 1 (proxy) needs two
witnesses. |
| Louisiana | Both
living will and health care proxy are included on
same form, and require two witnesses. |
| Maine | Both
advance directive Section I and Section II require
two witnesses. |
| Maryland | Advance
medical directive health care instructions requires
two witnesses. Appointment of health care agent
requires two witnesses. |
| Massachusetts | No
provision for a living will. Two witnesses required
for a health care proxy. |
| Michigan | No
provision for a living will. Two witnesses required
for designation of patient advocate for health care. |
| Minnesota | A
notary or two witnesses needed for a health care
living will. Not valid if pregnant. Two witnesses
or a notary are needed for durable power of attorney
for health care. |
| Mississippi | Advance
health care directive (living will and health care
proxy included on same form) requires a notary or
two witnesses. |
| Missouri | Living
will requires two witnesses, but is not valid if
pregnant. Durable power of attorney for health care
requires a notary or two witnesses. |
| Montana | Living
will requires two witnesses. |
| Nebraska | Living
will requires two witnesses or a notary. |
| Nevada | Durable
power of attorney for health care decisions requires
a notary or two witnesses. Living will requires
two witnesses. |
| New
Hampshire | Living
will requires a notary or a justice of the peace
AND two witnesses. Durable power of attorney for
health care requires a notary public or justice
of the peace OR two witnesses. |
| New
Jersey | Either
instruction directive, or appointment of a health
care representative needs two witnesses or a notary
public or to be signed in front of a lawyer. |
| New
Mexico | Instructions
for health care requires no witnesses. Power of
attorney for health care requires no witnesses. |
| New
York | Living
will requires two witnesses. Health care proxy requires
two witnesses. |
| North
Carolina | Declaration
of desire for a natural death requires two witnesses
and a notary public. Health care power of attorney
requires two witnesses and a notary. |
| North Dakota | Living
will needs two witnesses. Not valid if pregnant.
Durable power of attorney for health care needs
two witnesses. |
| Ohio | Living
will requires a notary or two witnesses, but is
not valid if pregnant unless doctors say pregnancy
won't result in a live birth. Durable power of attorney
for health care requires a notary or two witnesses. |
| Oklahoma | Living
will requires two witnesses, but is not valid if
pregnant. Appointment of health care proxy requires
two witnesses. |
| Oregon | Health
care instruction requires two witnesses. Health
care representative appointment requires two witnesses. |
| Pennsylvania | Living
will needs two witnesses, but is not valid if pregnant.
Appointment of a surrogate decision maker is part
of the declaration. |
| Rhode
Island | Living
will requires two witnesses, but is not valid if
pregnant and if the fetus could develop for a live
birth. Durable power of attorney for health care
requires two witnesses. |
| South
Carolina | Declaration
of desire for a natural death requires two witnesses
and a notary. Health care power of attorney requires
two witnesses. |
| South
Dakota | Living
will declaration requires two witnesses. Not valid
if pregnant. Durable power of attorney for health
care needs two witnesses or a notary. |
| Tennessee | Living
will requires two witnesses. Durable power of attorney
for health care requires two witnesses. A notary
is optional. |
| Texas | Directive
to physicians requires two witnesses, but is not
valid if pregnant. Durable power of attorney for
health care requires two witnesses. |
| Utah | Utah
directive to physicians and providers of medical
services requires two witnesses. Not valid if pregnant.
Utah special power of attorney requires notary. |
| Vermont | Both
terminal care document and durable power attorney
for health care require two witnesses. |
| Virginia | Advance
medical directive (both living will and health care
proxy) requires two witnesses. |
| Washington | Health
care directive requires two witnesses, but is not
valid if pregnant. Durable power of attorney for
health care does not require, but does recommend
witnesses. |
| West
Virginia | Living
will requires two witnesses and a notary. Medical
power of attorney for health care also requires
two witnesses and a notary. |
| Wisconsin | Declaration
to physicians requires two witnesses, but is not
valid if pregnant. Power of attorney for health
care requires two witnesses. |
| Wyoming | Living
will requires two witnesses, but is not valid if
pregnant. Durable power of attorney for health care
requires two witnesses and a notary. |
