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Witness, notary, and remote online notarization (RON) requirements for healthcare proxies in District of Columbia.
District of Columbia requires 2 witnesses for a healthcare proxy.DC Code § 21-2205Verified Apr 14, 2026 Witnesses cannot be: Your healthcare provider, Healthcare facility employees. Witnesses must be at least 18 years old.
Notarization is not required for a healthcare proxy to be valid in District of Columbia.DC Code § 21-2205Verified Apr 14, 2026
District of Columbia allows Remote Online Notarization (RON) for healthcare proxys.DC Code § 21-2205Verified Apr 14, 2026 The notarization can be completed via secure video call with an approved RON provider, without meeting in person. The state also accepts out-of-state RON.
To execute a healthcare proxy in District of Columbia: Find 2 adults to serve as witnesses. Review witness restrictions to ensure eligibility. Give copies to your healthcare agent and doctors. E-signature status unclear; remote notary has restrictions
Generally yes. District of Columbia accepts out-of-state healthcare directives in practice, but doesn't have an explicit reciprocity statute, so recognition rests on hospital practice and emergency-care doctrine.DC Code § 21-2221.09 (MOST form reciprocity only)Verified Apr 14, 2026 DC Code § 21-2221.09 covers MOST (Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment) form reciprocity only — EMS and health care professionals must recognize a MOST Form executed in another state. DC has no separate broad statutory reciprocity provision for general healthcare proxies/advance directives. Recognition of out-of-state healthcare proxies is governed by general comity principles, not statute. The document portability tool covers reciprocity rules in detail.
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