Skip to content
Oakclause

Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, a health care proxy must be signed in front of two adult witnesses; no notary is needed and the named health care agent cannot be a witness.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Document name
Health care proxy
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Witnesses must be adults.
Notary required
No
Who cannot witness
Health care agent

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

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

Document name in Massachusetts: Health care proxy.

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

Witnesses in Massachusetts: 2 witnesses. Witnesses must be adults.

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

No. Notary required in Massachusetts: no.

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

Who cannot witness in Massachusetts: Health care agent.

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

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 201D, 2. 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.