Signing checklist for Michigan

The signing steps in Michigan 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 Michigan law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

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

Financial power of attorney: Michigan

Choose your form Michigan Statutory Form Power of Attorney. You do not have to use it. Optional: a document 'substantially in the following form may be used'. The form has blocks for two witnesses and a notary. It covers money and property only, not health care. Official text
Law: MCL 556.401, 556.402
Sign it Signed by you, or by another person you direct to sign your name in your conscious presence.
Law: MCL 556.204, 556.205, 556.213
Notary or witnesses To be durable (to keep working if you lose capacity), the power of attorney must be either acknowledged before a notary public or signed in front of two witnesses who also sign it. A power of attorney signed without a notary or two witnesses is not durable. Banks and others must generally accept a notarized (acknowledged) power of attorney, but a witnessed-only one does not get that protection.
Law: MCL 556.204, 556.205, 556.213
Who cannot witness A witness may not be an agent named in the power of attorney. One of the two witnesses may be the notary who takes your acknowledgment. If someone else signs your name for you, two witnesses are required even if it is also notarized.
Law: MCL 556.204, 556.205, 556.213
The agent signs too Before acting under a durable power of attorney, the agent must sign an acknowledgment of the agent's duties containing the statements in the 'Agent's Acknowledgment' template in MCL 556.402. Not signing it does not cancel the agent's authority or reduce the agent's duties.
Law: MCL 556.204, 556.205, 556.213
If you sign electronically Under the act, 'sign' includes an electronic symbol or process and a power of attorney can be an electronic record. A temporary law allowed remote witnessing of durable powers of attorney by two-way audiovisual technology only for documents signed from April 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Law: MCL 556.204, 556.205, 556.213

Health care directive: Michigan

Sign it Signed and dated by you, voluntarily, in writing. You must be 18 or older and of sound mind.
Law: MCL 700.5506(3)-(4), 700.5507(4)-(5)
Notary or witnesses Sign and date the patient advocate designation in front of two qualified witnesses, who also sign. A notary is not part of the statutory rule. Before it can be used, it must be made part of your medical record, a copy must go to your patient advocate, and the patient advocate must sign an acceptance with the statements listed in MCL 700.5507(5). The designation must also say that the patient advocate's authority can be used only when you are unable to participate in medical or mental health treatment decisions.
Law: MCL 700.5506(3)-(4), 700.5507(4)-(5)
Who cannot witness A witness cannot be your spouse, parent, child, grandchild, brother or sister, presumptive heir, a known beneficiary under your will, your physician or your patient advocate, or an employee of your life or health insurer, of a health facility treating you, of a home for the aged where you live, or of a community mental health program or hospital giving you mental health services. Witnesses may sign only if you appear of sound mind and free of duress, fraud or undue influence.
Law: MCL 700.5506(3)-(4), 700.5507(4)-(5)
If you sign electronically Remote witnessing by two-way audiovisual technology was allowed only for designations signed from April 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Law: MCL 700.5506(3)-(4), 700.5507(4)-(5)
If you live in a nursing facility Employees of a health facility treating you, of a home for the aged where you live, or of a community mental health services program or hospital providing you mental health services cannot be witnesses.
Law: MCL 700.5506(3)-(4), 700.5507(4)-(5)

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 Michigan law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

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