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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in the District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, a durable power of attorney for health care must be dated and signed by you and two adult witnesses; no notary is required.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

District of Columbia at a glance

Document name
Durable power of attorney for health care
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Witnesses must be adults.
Notary required
No
The statute requires two witnesses and does not list notarization.
Who cannot witness
Health care provider and the provider's employees
At least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage or adoption or an heir under a current will or by law.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in the District of Columbia

What is a health care power of attorney called in the District of Columbia?

Document name in the District of Columbia: Durable power of attorney for health care.

How many witnesses does a health care power of attorney need in the District of Columbia?

Witnesses in the District of Columbia: 2 witnesses. Witnesses must be adults.

Does a health care power of attorney have to be notarized in the District of Columbia?

No. Notary required in the District of Columbia: no. The statute requires two witnesses and does not list notarization.

Who cannot witness a health care power of attorney in the District of Columbia?

Who cannot witness in the District of Columbia: Health care provider and the provider's employees. At least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage or adoption or an heir under a current will or by law.

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

The rules above come from D.C. Code 21-2205. 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.