Signing checklist for Rhode Island

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

Financial power of attorney: Signed by you; the law requires no notary or witnesses
Health care directive: Notarized or signed by two adult witnesses

Choose your form Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney. You do not have to use it. Using the short form is voluntary; any other form of power of attorney may be used. To count as a statutory short form, it must be in writing, contain the exact wording of clause 'First', include the warning notice in bold, and be acknowledged by you like a deed (before a notary). The form includes a signature line after the sentence 'This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent incompetency of the donor.' If you name more than one agent, they must act jointly unless you write 'severally'. Official text
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-1, 18-16-2
Sign it Signed by you (the principal or 'donor').
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-2(b), (e), 34-22-6.1
Notary or witnesses Rhode Island law does not set general witness or notary rules for a power of attorney. A statutory short form power of attorney must be acknowledged by you in the way a real estate deed is acknowledged, which means before a notary public. A durable power of attorney must be in writing.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-2(b), (e), 34-22-6.1
If it may be used for real estate A statutory short form power of attorney must be acknowledged in the manner prescribed for acknowledging a conveyance of real property.

Choose your form Statutory Form Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Official text
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-4.10-1.1(5), 23-4.10-2
Sign it Signed and dated by you. If you attach extra pages, date and sign each one at the same time.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.10-2
Notary or witnesses Sign the statutory form in front of two qualified adult witnesses or one notary public. One witness or the notary must sign the extra declaration about not being related to you and not inheriting from you. The form says you must be at least 18 and a Rhode Island resident.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.10-2
Who cannot witness Two qualified adult witnesses, or one notary public, who are present when you sign or acknowledge your signature. None of these may be a witness: your agent or alternate agent, a health care provider, an employee of a health care provider, the operator of a community care facility, or an employee of that operator. At least one of the witnesses (or the notary) must also declare that they are not related to you by blood, marriage or adoption and are not entitled to any part of your estate by will or by law.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.10-2

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.

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