Living Wills and Advance Directives in Iowa
How to make a valid living will (advance directive) and medical power of attorney in Iowa, with the official form.
Short answer: Iowa calls a living will a "declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures." Any competent adult may sign one directing that life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn; Iowa Code § 144A.3
| Living will / advance directive | Iowa calls a living will a "declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures." Any competent adult may sign one directing that life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn; it takes effect only if the person's condition is terminal and they cannot make treatment decisions. It must be signed (or signed for the person at their direction) and dated, and either signed by two witnesses who watched the signing in each other's and the declarant's presence (at least one not related to the declarant within the third degree), or acknowledged before a notary. The statute provides an optional form. Source: Iowa Code § 144A.3 |
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| Medical power of attorney | Iowa uses a "durable power of attorney for health care." It must explicitly authorize the agent to make health care decisions, be dated, and be signed either before two adult witnesses (who sign in each other's and the principal's presence, at least one not related to the principal within the third degree) or acknowledged before a notary. The agent and the principal's attending health care provider or its employees cannot be witnesses, and an attending provider cannot be the agent. Valid documents from other states are honored. Source: Iowa Code §§ 144B.3, 144B.4 |
More Iowa estate law
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- Who Inherits If You Die Without a Will in Iowa
- How to Make a Valid Will in Iowa
- How Probate Works in Iowa
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- Letters Testamentary in Iowa
- Affidavit of Heirship in Iowa
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- All Iowa wills, probate and estate rules
FAQ
How do I make a living will in Iowa?
Iowa calls a living will a "declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures." Any competent adult may sign one directing that life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn; it takes effect only if the person's condition is terminal and they cannot make treatment decisions. It must be signed (or signed for the person at their direction) and dated, and either signed by two witnesses who watched the signing in each other's and the declarant's presence (at least one not related to the declarant within the third degree), or acknowledged before a notary. The statute provides an optional form.
How do I make a medical power of attorney in Iowa?
Iowa uses a "durable power of attorney for health care." It must explicitly authorize the agent to make health care decisions, be dated, and be signed either before two adult witnesses (who sign in each other's and the principal's presence, at least one not related to the principal within the third degree) or acknowledged before a notary. The agent and the principal's attending health care provider or its employees cannot be witnesses, and an attending provider cannot be the agent. Valid documents from other states are honored.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.