Signing checklist for Pennsylvania

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

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

Financial power of attorney: Pennsylvania

Sign it Dated and signed by you (by signature or mark). If you cannot sign, another person can sign for you at your specific direction.
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b), (c), (d)
Notary or witnesses Date and sign the power of attorney, and sign the required notice at its beginning. Your signature must be acknowledged before a notary AND witnessed by two adults; both are needed. Before acting, your agent must sign the agent's acknowledgment.
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b), (c), (d)
Who cannot witness Two witnesses, each 18 or older. These people cannot be a witness: the person who signed for you, your agent, and the notary who takes your acknowledgment. A Pennsylvania lawyer may take the acknowledgment instead of a notary, but then cannot also be one of the two witnesses.
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b), (c), (d)
The agent signs too Your agent has no authority to act until the agent signs and attaches an acknowledgment saying they will act in line with your reasonable expectations, in good faith and within the authority you gave (20 Pa.C.S. 5601(d)). You must also sign a notice in capital letters at the beginning of the power of attorney (20 Pa.C.S. 5601(c)).
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b), (c), (d)
If you sign electronically A power of attorney signed in electronic form may be recorded under the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (20 Pa.C.S. 5602(c)). A photocopy or electronically sent copy has the same effect as the original, except for filing or recording (20 Pa.C.S. 5602(d)).
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b), (c), (d)
If it may be used for real estate An acknowledged (notarized) power of attorney may be recorded with the recorder of deeds in the county where you live and in each county where affected real estate is located. The original may also be filed with the clerk of the orphans' court division in your county (20 Pa.C.S. 5602(c)).

Health care directive: Pennsylvania

Choose your form Durable Health Care Power of Attorney and Health Care Treatment Instructions (Living Will) - example combined form, 20 Pa.C.S. 5471. You do not have to use it. Official text
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5433, 5447, 5465, 5471
Sign it Dated and signed by you (by signature or mark). If you cannot sign, another person can sign for you at your specific direction.
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5442, 5452
Notary or witnesses Sign and date the health care power of attorney and/or living will in front of two adult witnesses. A notary is not required. The same rule applies to each document.
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5442, 5452
Who cannot witness Two witnesses, each 18 or older. The person who signs for you cannot be a witness. A health care provider (or its agent) that gives you care cannot sign for you. The statute's example form says it is preferable that witnesses not be your heirs, your creditors or employees of your health care providers, but the law itself does not bar them.
Law: 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5442, 5452

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

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