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Living Will Requirements in the District of Columbia

A District of Columbia living will declaration must be signed in front of two adult witnesses; notarization is not required.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

District of Columbia at a glance

Name of the document
Declaration (Natural Death Act Living Will)
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Notarization
Optional

Sources

Last checked

The rules in District of Columbia

What is a living will called in the District of Columbia?

In the District of Columbia, the document is called the Declaration (Natural Death Act Living Will).

Does a living will need witnesses in the District of Columbia?

District of Columbia requires two witnesses.

Does a living will need to be notarized in the District of Columbia?

No. Notarization is optional in the District of Columbia.

Where do the District of Columbia rules for living wills come from?

They come from D.C. Code 7-622. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How District of Columbia compares

District of Columbia is one of 25 jurisdictions that make notarization optional.

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.