Free Iowa Living Will

In Iowa, the living will is the Declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.

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A competent adult may execute a declaration at any time may make a declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures in Iowa.

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The state whose law the document is prepared under. In Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Oregon, treatment instructions are part of the healthcare power of attorney; those state pages lead there.

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Yes. Iowa prints the form in the statute. The document prepared here is that form text with your entries in its blanks and your choices marked where the form has you initial them; the agent parts are omitted.

The declarant signs it in the presence of 2 adult witnesses, or acknowledges it before a notary public instead. A declarant who cannot sign may have another adult sign at the declarant's direction and in the declarant's presence.

When you can no longer make your own treatment decisions and your condition is one the statute names: terminal condition, as certified by your attending physician and one other physician. Iowa defines that term in the statute, and the document prints the definition it uses.

Yes. Iowa lets the declaration direct that artificially provided nutrition and hydration be withheld or withdrawn. “Life-sustaining procedure” does not include the provision of nutrition or hydration except when required to be provided parenterally or through intubation, or the administration of medication or performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain.

Iowa recognizes these ways to revoke it: at any time and in any manner by which the declarant is able to communicate the declarant’s intent to revoke, without regard to mental or physical condition.

The Living Will in Iowa

In Iowa, the Declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures stands on its own statute, separate from the healthcare power of attorney and with its own execution section. The document is the declaration by itself; an agent is named with the healthcare power of attorney.

Iowa prints the form in the statute; in the statute's words, “A declaration executed pursuant to this chapter may, but need not, be in the following form”. The document reproduces the form's text with the entries in its blanks and the elections marked where the form has the declarant initial them.

The declaration operates when the declarant can no longer make treatment decisions and the condition is one the statute names: terminal condition. Two physicians, the attending physician and one other, certify the condition before the declaration takes effect.

Signing in Iowa takes the declarant's signature before 2 adult witnesses, or a notary acknowledgment in place of the witnesses. Another adult may sign for a declarant who cannot, at the declarant's direction and in the declarant's presence.

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(5)·Updated September 27, 2026

SimplyTrust Editorial

Data sourced from Iowa statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Free Iowa Living Will

In Iowa, the living will is the Declaration relating to use of life-sustaining procedures, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.

Progress0%

The Living Will in Iowa

Free Iowa Living Will

Your Information

Is this your situation?

Serious Diagnosis

Retirement

Marriage

New Baby or Adoption

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Iowa

Healthcare Power of Attorney

HIPAA Release

Financial Power of Attorney

Last Will and Testament

Codicil to a Will

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Iowa

Do I Need a TOD Deed?

Do I Need a Vehicle TOD?

How Much Is the Federal Gift Tax?

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

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Iowa Estate Planning Resources

Free Iowa Living Will

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