Free Vermont Living Will

In Vermont, the living will is the Advance Directive for Health Care, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.

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An adult with capacity may execute an advance directive at any time. may make a advance directive for health care in Vermont.

Your State*

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.

First Name*

Middle Name

Last Name*

Date of Birth(MM/DD/YYYY)*

The Vermont form prints your date of birth under your name.

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State of Residence

Defaults to the state selected above.

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Yes. Vermont provides a form, published by the Vermont Ethics Network. The document prepared here is that form, filled from your answers, with the agent parts left blank.

The declarant signs it in the presence of 2 adult witnesses; no notary is required. 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: lacks capacity; close to death or unconscious and unlikely to become conscious again; conscious but unable to think or act for myself and will likely not improve; the likely costs, risks and burdens of treatment are more than I wish to endure, as certified by your physician. Vermont defines each term in the statute, and the document prints the definitions it uses.

Yes. Vermont lets the declaration direct that artificially provided nutrition and hydration be withheld or withdrawn.

Vermont recognizes these ways to revoke it: by signing a statement suspending or revoking all or part of an advance directive; by personally informing the principal’s clinician, who shall make a written record of the suspension or revocation in the principal’s medical record; by burning, tearing, or obliterating the advance directive, either by the principal personally or by another person at the principal’s express direction and in the presence of the principal; any provision other than the designation of an agent: orally, in writing, or by any other act evidencing a specific intent to suspend or revoke.

The Living Will in Vermont

Under Vermont's advance-directive statute, a directive may give treatment instructions without appointing an agent. The document is that instruction-only Advance Directive for Health Care; the agent part of the same instrument belongs to the healthcare power of attorney.

The document follows the form the Vermont Ethics Network publishes; in the statute's words, “Although a specific form is not required to execute an Advance Directive, a suggested form, and related information, is posted on the Department's website”, filled from the entries, with the agent parts left blank.

The declaration operates when the declarant can no longer make treatment decisions and the condition is one the statute names: lacks capacity; close to death or unconscious and unlikely to become conscious again; conscious but unable to think or act for myself and will likely not improve; the likely costs, risks and burdens of treatment are more than I wish to endure. The physician certifies the condition before the declaration takes effect.

Signing in Vermont takes the declarant's signature before 2 adult witnesses; no notary is involved. Another adult may sign for a declarant who cannot, at the declarant's direction and in the declarant's presence.

Vermont recognizes a registry for it: Vermont Advance Directive Registry (VADR), developed and maintained by the Commissioner of Health. Filing a signed declaration there is a separate step from signing it.

Legal Sources

(6)·Updated September 28, 2026

SimplyTrust Editorial

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

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Free tools for planning your estate in Vermont: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Vermont and read its answer.

Do I Need a TOD Deed?

Vermont does not authorize transfer on death deeds; sole-name real property goes through probate, at least 6 months for a simple estate, unless held in a trust or with a right of survivorship.

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Do I Need a Vehicle TOD?

Vermont allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle title, filed through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation) using Form VT-007.

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How Much Is the Federal Gift Tax?

Whether a gift owes federal gift tax, how much of the annual exclusion and lifetime exemption it uses, and whether Form 709 is due.

Calculate the Tax

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Vermont runs $2,400 to $3,600 and a simple will $891 to $1,782, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In Vermont, four years at a public university cost about $123,548 and the cost of living is near the U.S. average; the state levies an estate tax above $5,000,000.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

Vermont does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorce; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.

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How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Vermont, a will is signed before 2 witnesses, and notarization is not required.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Vermont recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signed; a will signed in Vermont itself needs 2 witnesses, and notarization is not required.

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All Vermont tools

Vermont Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Vermont probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

Free Vermont Living Will

In Vermont, the living will is the Advance Directive for Health Care, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.

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The Living Will in Vermont

Free Vermont Living Will

Your Information

Is this your situation?

Serious Diagnosis

Retirement

Marriage

New Baby or Adoption

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Vermont

Healthcare Power of Attorney

HIPAA Release

Financial Power of Attorney

Lady Bird Deed

Vehicle Transfer on Death

Last Will and Testament

Codicil to a Will

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Vermont

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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Vermont Estate Planning Resources

Free Vermont Living Will

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