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Health Care Power of Attorney Requirements in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, a durable power of attorney for health care must be signed by one notary public or two qualified adult witnesses; the agent, health care providers and their employees, and community care facility operators and staff cannot witness.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Rhode Island 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 statutory form is valid if signed by one notary public or two qualified witnesses.
Who cannot witness
Agent, health care providers and staff, care facility operators
At least one witness or the notary must declare they are not related to the principal and not entitled to the estate.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Rhode Island

What is a health care power of attorney called in Rhode Island?

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

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

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

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

Notary or 2 witnesses. Notary required in Rhode Island: notary or 2 witnesses. The statutory form is valid if signed by one notary public or two qualified witnesses.

Who cannot witness a health care power of attorney in Rhode Island?

Who cannot witness in Rhode Island: Agent, health care providers and staff, care facility operators. At least one witness or the notary must declare they are not related to the principal and not entitled to the estate.

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

The rules above come from R.I. Gen. Laws 23-4.10-2. 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.