Will.com / Healthcare directive / District of Columbia
DC · Health Care Directive
Make your District of Columbia healthcare directive.
Tell doctors what care you want and name someone to speak for you if you can't. Legally valid in District of Columbia once signed under the District of Columbia signing rules below. Free to create, or add secure online document storage with the $29/year subscription.
District of Columbia healthcare directive requirements
How it works
- 1
Answer a few questions
About your care preferences and who you want making decisions.
- 2
Download your healthcare directive
A complete, personalized document, formatted for District of Columbia.
- 3
Sign and share
Sign in front of 2 adult witnesses. A notary is not required, but notarization is recommended. Not everyone can witness it, so read the witness statement on the document before you choose. Give a copy to your doctor and to any healthcare agent and alternate agent you named.
What governs a District of Columbia directive
District of Columbia's healthcare-directive statute is at D.C. Code §21-2201 et seq. The official form is the Health Care Directive. Your directive is valid the moment it's signed under your state's witness and notary rules above; it only takes effect if your physician determines you can't make or communicate decisions yourself.
Witness rules for your District of Columbia directive
D.C. Code §21-2205(c): the durable power of attorney for health care must be dated and signed by the principal and by two adult witnesses who affirm that the principal was of sound mind and free from duress at the time of signing, and those witnesses may not include the principal, the principal's health-care provider, or an employee of that provider. Under §21-2205(d), at least one of the two witnesses must not be related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption and must not be entitled to any part of the principal's estate by a current will or by operation of law. The sample form at §21-2207 also has each witness declare that the witness is not the person appointed as attorney in fact by the document.
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