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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Georgia

In Georgia, a health care agent is appointed in an advance directive for health care that must be signed by two adult witnesses; no notary is required.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Georgia at a glance

Document name
Advance directive for health care (health care agent)
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Witnesses must be 18 or older. They do not have to be together when you sign. The witnesses do not have to be together when you sign.
Notary required
No
The statute requires two witnesses and does not list notarization.
Who cannot witness
Agent, heirs, others who gain at your death, caregivers
No more than one witness may be an employee, agent or medical staff member of the facility treating you.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Georgia

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

Document name in Georgia: Advance directive for health care (health care agent).

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

Witnesses in Georgia: 2 witnesses. Witnesses must be 18 or older. They do not have to be together when you sign. The witnesses do not have to be together when you sign.

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

No. Notary required in Georgia: no. The statute requires two witnesses and does not list notarization.

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

Who cannot witness in Georgia: Agent, heirs, others who gain at your death, caregivers. No more than one witness may be an employee, agent or medical staff member of the facility treating you.

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

The rules above come from Ga. Code 31-32-5. 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.