Free District of Columbia Living Will

In the District of Columbia, the living will is the Declaration, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.

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Any persons 18 years of age or older may execute a declaration may make a declaration in District of Columbia.

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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. District of Columbia 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; 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: terminal condition, as certified by your attending physician and one other physician. District of Columbia defines that term in the statute, and the document prints the definition it uses.

Any persons 18 years of age or older may execute a declaration.

District of Columbia recognizes these ways to revoke it: by being obliterated, burnt, torn, or otherwise destroyed or defaced by the declarant or by some person in the declarant’s presence and at his or her direction; by a written revocation of the declaration signed and dated by the declarant or person acting at the direction of the declarant, effective only upon communication of the revocation to the attending physician by the declarant or by a person acting on behalf of the declarant.

The Living Will in District of Columbia

District of Columbia treats the living will as a document of its own: the statute calls it the Declaration and gives it its own signing rule, apart from the healthcare power of attorney. The document is that declaration alone; naming an agent is the healthcare power of attorney's work.

District of Columbia prints the form in the statute; in the statute's words, “The declaration shall be substantially in the following form, but in addition may include other specific directions not inconsistent with other provisions of this subchapter”. 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.

District of Columbia names one condition in which the declaration operates: terminal condition. Two physicians, the attending physician and one other, certify the condition before the declaration takes effect. It applies only once the declarant can no longer make treatment decisions.

Signing in the District of Columbia 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.

Legal Sources

(5)·Updated September 28, 2026

SimplyTrust Editorial

Data sourced from District of Columbia statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Free tools for planning your estate in the District of Columbia: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool.

Do I Need a TOD Deed?

District of Columbia authorizes transfer on death deeds: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.

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Do I Need a Vehicle TOD?

District of Columbia allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle title, filed through the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) using Form DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001.

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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 the District of Columbia runs $3,820 to $5,730 and a simple will $1,041 to $2,082, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In the District of Columbia, four years at a public university cost about $24,608 and the cost of living is 10% above the U.S. average; the state levies an estate tax above $4,988,400.

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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia, a will is signed before 2 witnesses, and notarization is not required.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

District of Columbia has no statute recognizing a will by the law of the place where it was signed, so a will used here is tested against its own rule: 2 witnesses, and notarization is not required.

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All District of Columbia tools

District of Columbia Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering District of Columbia probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

Free District of Columbia Living Will

In the District of Columbia, the living will is the Declaration, a document of its own, apart from the healthcare power of attorney.

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The Living Will in District of Columbia

Free District of Columbia Living Will

Your Information

Is this your situation?

Serious Diagnosis

Retirement

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Forms for Planning Your Estate in District of Columbia

Healthcare Power of Attorney

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Financial Power of Attorney

Transfer on Death Deed

Vehicle Transfer on Death

Last Will and Testament

Tools for Planning Your Estate in District of Columbia

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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District of Columbia Estate Planning Resources

Free District of Columbia Living Will

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