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Washington Advance Directive and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

The named health care agent acts when you cannot make the relevant health care decisions, under the form’s terms.

Jurisdiction
Washington
Purpose
Medical & health care
Source / form version
2024 revision
Resource format
PDF
Signing
Principal signs and dates before a notary OR two qualified adult witnesses. Read witness exclusions before choosing the signature route.
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Sources checked: 2026-11-13. General information, not individual legal advice.

Use the overview and full directive

WSMA’s eight-page download includes an overview and the full advance directive with a health care agent appointment. It provides space for preferences and limits, not just names. The publisher also offers shorter versions and other languages. Use one complete version and keep its signature pages connected to the choices you make.

Sources: [2] [3]

Make the agent’s job understandable

Name a primary agent and backups with usable contact details. Discuss the care you would want, how you weigh comfort and life prolongation, and any people the agent should consult. Complete the treatment-preference sections deliberately; your agent may need to interpret them in circumstances you did not anticipate.

Sources: [2] [3]

Complete execution and share copies

Use the notary or two-witness route and check the form’s witness eligibility rules. A person’s proximity at a clinic does not automatically make them eligible. Keep your signed copy accessible and give copies to the agent and treating providers. If your health, preferences or agent availability changes, review the directive and tell recipients about replacements.

Sources: [2] [3]

Common questions

Does this form give my agent financial authority?

No. A health care power of attorney concerns treatment and related decisions. Use a separate financial appointment for accounts, bills or property.

Sources: [1] [3]

Can I complete the electronic fields and stop there?

No. Typing into the publisher’s PDF is preparation. The signature and witness/notary steps still must be completed, and the finished document needs to reach the people who may use it.

Sources: [1] [3]

Related forms and guides

Sources and verification

  1. Washington State Medical Association: source and instructions (opens in a new tab)
  2. Publisher document download (opens in a new tab)
  3. Applicable state law or official guidance (opens in a new tab)
  4. PeaceHealth-hosted 2024 WSMA printable copy (alternate source) (opens in a new tab)

Publisher source and all eight PDF pages inspected. A later complete download retry succeeded with 3,935,664 bytes and 63 form fields after a temporary HTTP 502 response during central auditing. This is source research, not independent attorney review.

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.