Health care directive in Arizona: form, signing and who decides
The form, who can witness, who can be your agent and who decides if you have no directive in Arizona.
Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.
Short answer
Health Care Power of Attorney
- Official form
- Durable Health Care Power of Attorney (Life Care Planning packet; statutory sample at A.R.S. 36-3224)
- How to sign
- Notarized or signed by one adult witness
- Who decides without a directive
- Yes
The document and its form
- Document
- Health Care Power of Attorney
- Official form
- Durable Health Care Power of Attorney (Life Care Planning packet; statutory sample at A.R.S. 36-3224)Published by Arizona Attorney General (Life Care Planning)Version: Updated 08/2026
You do not have to use it.
- Living will
Living Will
The living will is a separate document.
A living will states your treatment wishes. You can make it part of your health care power of attorney or a separate document. A separate living will must be signed the same way as a health care power of attorney: notarized or witnessed by at least one qualified adult.
Law: A.R.S. §§ 36-3221, 36-3224; A.R.S. §§ 36-3261, 36-3262
Signing rules
- How to sign
Date and sign the health care power of attorney, then have it either notarized or signed by at least one qualified adult witness who confirms you appeared of sound mind and free from duress. Changes to it must be signed the same way.
- Who signs
Dated and signed or marked by you. If you physically cannot sign, the notary or each witness must note on the document that you directly told them the document expresses your wishes.
- Notary
- A notary or witnesses (your choice)
- Witnesses
- 1 (instead of a notary)
- Who cannot witness
The notary or witness cannot be anyone you name to make medical decisions for you, or anyone directly involved in your health care when you sign. If only one witness signs, that witness cannot be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption and cannot be entitled to any part of your estate.
Law: A.R.S. §§ 36-3221, 36-3222
Who can be your agent and what the agent can do
- Who cannot be your agent
Any adult can be your health care agent. A person whose fiduciary license was suspended or revoked cannot serve unless related to you or reinstated. For a mental health care power of attorney, the agent cannot be someone directly involved in your health care when you sign.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3221(E); A.R.S. 36-3281(C)
- When the agent starts
Your agent makes decisions while you are unable to make or communicate them. The statutory sample says it takes effect on your inability to make or communicate health care decisions. The appointment lasts until you or a court revoke it.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3223(A); A.R.S. 36-3224
- Decisions an agent cannot make
Your agent's authority is limited only by the words of your health care power of attorney or a court order. A surrogate cannot consent to anything you could not lawfully consent to. A surrogate who is not your agent or guardian cannot consent to permanently withdrawing artificial food or fluid.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3223(B); A.R.S. 36-3203
Revoking and conflicting documents
- Revoking your agent
You can revoke a health care directive or disqualify a surrogate by a written revocation or statement, by telling your surrogate or a health care provider out loud, by making a new directive, or by any other act that shows you mean to revoke it. A mental health care power of attorney has its own revocation rule.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3285
- Revoking your instructions
A living will is revoked the same ways.
- Telling others
Tell your agent and your health care providers. If you registered the directive, also update the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry; failing to tell the registry does not undo a valid revocation.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3293
Law: A.R.S. §§ 36-3202, 36-3293
If you have no directive
- Who decides without a directive
If you cannot make or communicate decisions and have no agent or guardian, the provider must try to reach these people in order. If none can be found, your attending physician may decide after consulting an ethics committee or, if that is not possible, a second physician who agrees.
- Court-appointed guardian with health care authority (or your health care agent, if you have one)
- Spouse, unless legally separated
- Adult child (a majority of available adult children if more than one)
- Parent
- Domestic partner, if you are unmarried
- Brother or sister
- Close friend who has shown special care and concern and knows your health care views
Law: A.R.S. § 36-3231
Other states, registry and medical orders
- Signed in another state
A health care directive made in another U.S. state, district or territory is valid in Arizona if it was valid where and when it was made, to the extent it does not conflict with Arizona criminal law.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3208
- Registry
Fee: Free (AzHDR registration agreement)
- POLST (medical orders)
POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), national form, Arizona version; separately, the orange Prehospital Medical Care Directive (Do Not Resuscitate)
- Mental health directive
Arizona has a separate mental health care power of attorney. It must be in writing, dated and signed, and notarized or witnessed by at least one adult. Each paragraph that lets your agent admit you to an inpatient psychiatric facility must be separately initialed. Without one, your health care agent can make mental health decisions with some limits.
Law: A.R.S. 36-3281, 36-3282
Law: A.R.S. §§ 36-3291 to 36-3295
Free notice: revoke or change a health care directive
Free help in Arizona
- AZLawHelp.org (legal aid directory)
- Arizona Attorney General: Life Care Planning (free health care directive forms)
- Arizona Judicial Branch: Life Care Planning Forms
- Maricopa County Superior Court: Revocation of Power of Attorney forms
Report abuse or exploitation
Arizona Department of Economic Security, Adult Protective Services · 1-877-767-2385
Questions about powers of attorney in Arizona
How do I sign a health care directive in Arizona?
Date and sign the health care power of attorney, then have it either notarized or signed by at least one qualified adult witness who confirms you appeared of sound mind and free from duress. Changes to it must be signed the same way.
Who decides my health care if I have no directive in Arizona?
If you cannot make or communicate decisions and have no agent or guardian, the provider must try to reach these people in order. If none can be found, your attending physician may decide after consulting an ethics committee or, if that is not possible, a second physician who agrees.