District of Columbia Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
Agent makes health care decisions when the legal incapacity determination permits; a separate declaration addresses terminal-condition treatment.
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Agent makes health care decisions when the legal incapacity determination permits; a separate declaration addresses terminal-condition treatment.
Financial authority is generally immediate and durable; health care decisions are excluded.
Sources checked: 2026-11-13. General information, not individual legal advice.
District of Columbia financial powers of attorney are governed by the 2022 Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Medical decision-making uses a different law and document. Real estate authority has an additional front-page notice and recording requirement.
| Purpose | Form and guide | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and property matters | District of Columbia Statutory Durable Power of Attorney | Printable statutory-text PDF · website layout |
| Health care decisions | District of Columbia Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care | Publisher PDF · read complete instructions |
Use each form page for the complete document, the named publisher and its instructions. A financial appointment and a health care appointment serve different purposes.
Financial and property matters: Principal signs and acknowledges before a notary or other authorized officer. Real-property authority also requires the front-page notice, deed-style execution and recording described in §21-2603.03..
Health care decisions: Principal signs with two adult witnesses. At least one must be unrelated and not entitled to the principal’s estate; the appointed attorney-in-fact cannot witness..
These summaries identify the arrangements described by the cited law or selected form. Read the detail page for witness eligibility, exceptions and any differences between a publisher’s instructions and current law.
Discuss the role with your proposed agent and any successor. Read every page before signing, including notices, special powers, treatment choices and agent acknowledgments. Keep the instructions with the form, and give complete copies to the people or institutions that will rely on it.
The directory identifies the publisher and edition instead of implying that all documents come from government. Agency transactions, real estate recording and unusual arrangements can require additional steps.
The date above records a source check. It does not certify that a form is suitable for your circumstances or that an attorney has reviewed your document. Read the publisher’s current instructions before use.