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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Iowa

In Iowa, a durable power of attorney for health care must be signed by two witnesses or acknowledged before a notarial officer in Iowa.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Iowa at a glance

Document name
Durable power of attorney for health care
Witnesses
2 witnesses or a notary
Notary required
Notary or 2 witnesses
Acknowledgment before a notarial officer in Iowa can replace the two witnesses.
Who cannot witness
Agent, attending provider and staff, anyone under 18
At least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage or adoption within the third degree.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Iowa

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

Document name in Iowa: Durable power of attorney for health care.

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

Witnesses in Iowa: 2 witnesses or a notary.

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

Notary or 2 witnesses. Notary required in Iowa: notary or 2 witnesses. Acknowledgment before a notarial officer in Iowa can replace the two witnesses.

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

Who cannot witness in Iowa: Agent, attending provider and staff, anyone under 18. At least one witness cannot be a relative by blood, marriage or adoption within the third degree.

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

The rules above come from Iowa Code 144B.3. 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.