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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Illinois

In Illinois, the statutory short form power of attorney for health care needs one adult witness and no notary.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Illinois at a glance

Document name
Power of attorney for health care (statutory short form)
Witnesses
1 witness (statutory form)
A non-statutory health care power need not be witnessed.
Notary required
No
Who cannot witness
Agents, relatives, your doctors and similar clinicians
Also: relatives of you or your agents, relatives of your clinicians, and owners or operators of your care facility.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Illinois

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

Document name in Illinois: Power of attorney for health care (statutory short form).

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

Witnesses in Illinois: 1 witness (statutory form). A non-statutory health care power need not be witnessed.

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

No. Notary required in Illinois: no.

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

Who cannot witness in Illinois: Agents, relatives, your doctors and similar clinicians. Also: relatives of you or your agents, relatives of your clinicians, and owners or operators of your care facility.

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

The rules above come from 755 ILCS 45/4-10. 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.