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Living Will Requirements in Iowa

An Iowa living will declaration must be signed and dated and either witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notarial officer in Iowa.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Iowa at a glance

Name of the document
Declaration (Living Will)
Witnesses
2 witnesses
Or a notary instead of witnesses
Notarization
Instead of witnesses

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Iowa

What is a living will called in Iowa?

In Iowa, the document is called the Declaration (Living Will).

Does a living will need witnesses in Iowa?

Iowa requires two witnesses, or a notary instead.

Does a living will need to be notarized in Iowa?

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

Where do the Iowa rules for living wills come from?

They come from Iowa Code 144A.3. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How Iowa compares

Iowa 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.