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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Ohio

In Ohio, a durable power of attorney for health care must be signed and dated by the principal and either witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notary public; relatives, the named agents, the attending physician and the nursing home administrator cannot witness.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Ohio at a glance

Document name
Durable power of attorney for health care
Witnesses
2 witnesses or a notary
Witnesses must be adults.
Notary required
Notary or 2 witnesses
The document is valid if witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notary public.
Who cannot witness
Relatives, agent or alternate, attending physician
The administrator of a nursing home where the principal receives care is also ineligible.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Ohio

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

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

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

Witnesses in Ohio: 2 witnesses or a notary. Witnesses must be adults.

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

Notary or 2 witnesses. Notary required in Ohio: notary or 2 witnesses. The document is valid if witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notary public.

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

Who cannot witness in Ohio: Relatives, agent or alternate, attending physician. The administrator of a nursing home where the principal receives care is also ineligible.

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

The rules above come from Ohio Rev. Code 1337.12. 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.