Signing checklist for Maine

The signing steps in Maine law, step by step. Pick your documents to see them.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

This checklist lists the signing rules in Maine law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

Financial power of attorney: Notarized
Health care directive: Signed in front of two witnesses (no notary)

Financial power of attorney: Maine

Sign it Signed by you, or by another person in your conscious presence whom you direct to sign your name.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-905, 5-906(5)
Notary or witnesses A Maine power of attorney is not valid unless it is acknowledged before a notary public (or another person authorized to take acknowledgments). A durable power of attorney must also include the statutory notices to the principal and to the agent.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-905, 5-906(5)
The agent signs too A durable power of attorney must contain a 'Notice to the Principal' and a 'Notice to the Agent' substantially in the form set out in the statute. The statute does not require the agent to sign. If the notice is included but incomplete or defective, the power of attorney becomes valid and enforceable 2 years after signing.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-905, 5-906(5)

Health care directive: Maine

Choose your form Advance Health Care Directive. You do not have to use it. Official text
Law: 18-C M.R.S. § 5-805
Sign it Signed by you. If you are isolated with an infectious disease in a hospital or residential health care facility, you can direct someone outside the isolation area in the same facility to sign for you, using two-way audio-video if needed.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-803(1), (2), 5-803-A
Notary or witnesses Sign the power of attorney for health care in person and have 2 witnesses sign it. Individual instructions (your treatment wishes) can be written or oral; an oral instruction counts only if made to a health care provider or to a person who could be your surrogate.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-803(1), (2), 5-803-A
Who cannot witness A power of attorney for health care must be signed by you and 2 witnesses. The statute does not list people who are disqualified from witnessing.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-803(1), (2), 5-803-A
If you sign electronically Signatures of the principal and the witnesses on a power of attorney for health care must be made in person, not by electronic means, even though other laws allow electronic signatures.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-803(1), (2), 5-803-A
If you live in a nursing facility Remote signing by a person you direct, with witnesses by two-way audio-video, is allowed only when you are confined to an isolation area for an infectious disease in a hospital or residential health care facility.
Law: 18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-803(1), (2), 5-803-A

After signing

Give copies to the right people Keep the signed documents in a safe place and give copies to your health care proxy and your doctors. Some states have registries that store an advance directive for doctors and your proxy.

Signing checklist

This checklist lists the signing rules in Maine law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

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