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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Connecticut

In Connecticut, you appoint a health care representative in a document signed and dated in front of two adult witnesses; the person you appoint cannot be a witness.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Connecticut at a glance

Document name
Appointment of health care representative
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Witnesses must be adults.
Notary required
No
The statute requires two witnesses. Witnesses may optionally sign a sworn affidavit to help prove the document later.
Who cannot witness
Health care representative you appoint
Residents of DMHAS or DDS facilities need one unaffiliated witness and one physician, APRN or psychologist witness.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Connecticut

What is a health care power of attorney called in Connecticut?

Document name in Connecticut: Appointment of health care representative.

How many witnesses does a health care power of attorney need in Connecticut?

Witnesses in Connecticut: 2 witnesses. Witnesses must be adults.

Does a health care power of attorney have to be notarized in Connecticut?

No. Notary required in Connecticut: no. The statute requires two witnesses. Witnesses may optionally sign a sworn affidavit to help prove the document later.

Who cannot witness a health care power of attorney in Connecticut?

Who cannot witness in Connecticut: Health care representative you appoint. Residents of DMHAS or DDS facilities need one unaffiliated witness and one physician, APRN or psychologist witness.

Where do the Connecticut health care power of attorney requirements come from?

The rules above come from Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-576 and Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-575a. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Follow the signing rules of the state where you live when you sign. If you spend a lot of time in another state, check whether that state honors documents signed elsewhere, and consider signing a version that also meets its rules.

Choose witnesses before the signing day. Witness rules often exclude the agent you are naming and may also exclude relatives, people who would inherit from you, or staff of a health care provider or facility caring for you. Using two unrelated adults avoids most problems.

Give copies of the signed document to your agent, any alternate agent and your doctors, and keep the original where it can be found quickly. If you later change your mind, revoke the old document in writing and tell everyone who has a copy.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.