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Living Will Requirements in Colorado

A Colorado living will declaration must be signed either in front of two witnesses or acknowledged before a notary public.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Colorado at a glance

Name of the document
Declaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment (Living Will)
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Or a notary instead of witnesses
Notarization
Instead of witnesses

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Colorado

What is a living will called in Colorado?

In Colorado, the document is called the Declaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment (Living Will).

Does a living will need witnesses in Colorado?

Colorado requires two witnesses, or a notary instead.

Does a living will need to be notarized in Colorado?

Only if you do not use witnesses. Colorado accepts a notary as an alternative to witnesses.

Where do the Colorado rules for living wills come from?

They come from C.R.S. 15-18-106 and C.R.S. 15-18-105. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How Colorado compares

Colorado is one of 22 jurisdictions that accept a notary instead of witnesses.

What this means in practice

Give copies to your doctor, your health care agent and close family, and keep the original where it can be found quickly. A living will that nobody can find cannot help.

Many states have rules about who may serve as a witness, for example excluding relatives or your health care providers. Check the statute before you sign.

Review the document after a major diagnosis, a move to another state or a change in your wishes.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.