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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Indiana

In Indiana, an advance directive naming a health care representative must be signed in front of two adult witnesses or a notarial officer.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Indiana at a glance

Document name
Advance directive (health care representative)
Witnesses
2 witnesses or a notary
Witnesses may use audiovisual technology, or the telephone if audiovisual is impossible or impractical. A notary cannot act by phone.
Notary required
Notary or 2 witnesses
Remote online or electronic notarization is allowed.
Who cannot witness
Person who signs for you; 1 witness must be a non-relative
At least one witness cannot be your spouse or other relative.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Indiana

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

Document name in Indiana: Advance directive (health care representative).

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

Witnesses in Indiana: 2 witnesses or a notary. Witnesses may use audiovisual technology, or the telephone if audiovisual is impossible or impractical. A notary cannot act by phone.

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

Notary or 2 witnesses. Notary required in Indiana: notary or 2 witnesses. Remote online or electronic notarization is allowed.

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

Who cannot witness in Indiana: Person who signs for you; 1 witness must be a non-relative. At least one witness cannot be your spouse or other relative.

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

The rules above come from Ind. Code 16-36-7-28. 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.