Living Will Witness Requirements by State

Federal & State Law Editorial TeamLast reviewed: April 2026

Number of witnesses required to execute a valid advance directive/living will, notarization, and statutory form availability.

50 States2 data columnsLast updated: February 2026

Click any column header to sort ascending or descending. Click again to reverse, and a third time to reset.

Witnesses	Notary	Statutory Form
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
1 + notary	Yes	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
1	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
None required	No	Yes
2	No	No (case law)
2 + notary	Yes	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 + notary	Yes	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2 or notary	Optional	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2 + notary	Yes	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes
2	No	Yes

Witnesses generally cannot be relatives, heirs, or healthcare providers. Several states recognize advance directives validly executed in other states. POLST/MOLST forms have separate execution requirements.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.