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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Oregon

In Oregon, an advance directive or form appointing a health care representative must be signed and either witnessed by two adults or notarized; the attending physician or provider and the named health care representatives cannot witness.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Oregon at a glance

Document name
Advance directive (appointing a health care representative)
Witnesses
2 witnesses or a notary
Witnesses must be adults. If the principal lives in a long term care facility, one witness must be a person designated by the facility and qualified under state rules.
Notary required
Notary or 2 witnesses
The form must be witnessed and signed by at least two adults or notarized by a notary public.
Who cannot witness
Attending physician or provider, health care representative
Alternate health care representatives also cannot witness.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Oregon

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

Document name in Oregon: Advance directive (appointing a health care representative).

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

Witnesses in Oregon: 2 witnesses or a notary. Witnesses must be adults. If the principal lives in a long term care facility, one witness must be a person designated by the facility and qualified under state rules.

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

Notary or 2 witnesses. Notary required in Oregon: notary or 2 witnesses. The form must be witnessed and signed by at least two adults or notarized by a notary public.

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

Who cannot witness in Oregon: Attending physician or provider, health care representative. Alternate health care representatives also cannot witness.

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

The rules above come from Or. Rev. Stat. 127.515 and Or. Rev. Stat. 127.510. 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.