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Living Will Requirements in New Mexico

New Mexico does not require witnesses or notarization for an advance health-care directive; a power of attorney for health care must be in writing and signed by the principal, and an individual instruction may be oral or written.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Mexico at a glance

Name of the document
Advance Health-Care Directive
Witnesses
None
Notarization
Optional

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Mexico

What is a living will called in New Mexico?

In New Mexico, the document is called the Advance Health-Care Directive.

Does a living will need witnesses in New Mexico?

New Mexico does not require witnesses.

Does a living will need to be notarized in New Mexico?

No. Notarization is optional in New Mexico.

Where do the New Mexico rules for living wills come from?

They come from NMSA 1978 24-7A-2. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How New Mexico compares

New Mexico 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.