Outline your medical wishes in Washington DC: District of Columbia Advance Directive
What is a District of Columbia Advance Directive?
The individual making an Advance Directive is known as the "principal," and the person or organization obtaining authority to carry out the principal's wishes is called the "agent." Suitable for residents of Washington DC, our free Advance Directive is made for use throughout the district. Each District of Columbia Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be tailored for your particular situation. Creating this official legal document provides proof of your preferences to healthcare providers, and it will certify that your selected representative has been given the authority to make choices for you.
When to use a District of Columbia Advance Directive:
- You're making sure your loved ones aren't put in the position of making important end-of-life healthcare decisions for you.
- You're about to draft a complete estate plan, and want to make sure life-sustaining treatments are covered.
Sample District of Columbia Advance Directive
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LIVING WILL
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
DECLARATION
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
(LIVING WILL)
(HEALTH CARE PROXY)
(LIVING WILL AND HEALTH CARE PROXY)
DECLARATION
and
HEALTH CARE PROXY
LIVING WILL
and
MEDICAL DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
DOCUMENT CONCERNING WITHHOLDING OR WITHDRAWAL OF LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS
HEALTH CARE INSTRUCTIONS
DOCUMENT CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS
OF
DECLARATION
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
LIVING WILL
and
DESIGNATION OF HEALTH CARE SURROGATE
DECLARATION
and
STATUTORY FORM
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
A LIVING WILL
A Directive to Withhold or to Provide Treatment
and
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
LIVING WILL DECLARATION
and
COMBINED DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT
DECLARATION
and
DESIGNATION OF ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
DECLARATION OF A DESIRE FOR A NATURAL DEATH
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
and
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
ADVANCE HEALTH-CARE DIRECTIVE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
DECLARATION
HEALTH CARE PROXY OF
ADVANCE DIRECTIVE OF
LIVING WILL DECLARATION
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
ADVANCE CARE PLAN
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
LIVING WILL
ADVANCE DIRECTIVE
and
MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
and
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
DECLARATION TO PHYSICIANS
(WISCONSIN LIVING WILL)
and
HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
LIVING WILL
AND
MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
I. LIVING WILLI. ADVANCE DIRECTIVEI. DECLARATIONI. DOCUMENT CONCERNING WITHHOLDING OR WITHDRAWAL OF LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMSI. A LIVING WILL - A DIRECTIVE TO WITHHOLD OR TO PROVIDE TREATMENTI. LIVING WILL DECLARATIONI. HEALTH CARE INSTRUCTIONSI. DECLARATION OF A DESIRE FOR A NATURAL DEATHI. HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVEI. DECLARATION TO PHYSICIANS (WISCONSIN LIVING WILL)Declaration made this ______ day of ____________________, _____. I, , willfully and voluntarily make known my desire that my dying not be artificially prolonged under the circumstances set forth below, and I do hereby declare:This is an important legal document known as an advance directive. It is designed to help you communicate your wishes about medical treatment at some time in the future when you are unable to make your wishes known because of illness or injury. These wishes are usually based on personal values. In particular, you may want to consider what burdens or hardships of treatment you would be willing to accept for a particular amount of benefit obtained if you were seriously ill. You are encouraged to discuss your values and wishes with your family or chosen spokesperson, as well as your physician. Your physician, other health care providers, or medical institution may provide you with various resources to assist you in completing your advance directive. Brief definitions are listed below and may aid you in your discussions and advance planning. Initial the treatment choices that best reflect your personal preferences. Provide a copy of your directive to your physician, usual hospital, and family or spokesperson. Consider a periodic review of this document. By periodic review, you can best assure that the directive reflects your preferences. I, , being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make this Declaration for my care to be followed if I become unable to express my desires directly as a consequence of physical or mental incapacity or disability, regardless of whether this is caused by illness, accident, or other injury. This document is intended to direct all persons who are involved with my care including my relatives, physicians or personal representatives which I have appointed, or which hereafter may be appointed by the courts.
__________ (initial) I have a terminal condition
__________ (initial) or I have an irreversible condition
__________ (initial) or I am in a persistent vegetative state
AND if my attending or treating physician and another consulting physician have determined that there is no reasonable medical probability of my recovery from such condition, I direct that life-prolonging procedures be withheld or withdrawn when the application of such procedures would serve only to prolong artificially the process of dying, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care or to alleviate pain.
TO RECEIVE artificially administered nutrition and hydration (food and fluids).NOT TO RECEIVE artificially administered nutrition and hydration (food and fluids) procedures, except as deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care.However, if at any point it is determined that it is not possible that the fetus could develop to the point of live birth with continued application of life-prolonging procedures, it is my preference that this document be given effect at that point. If life-prolonging procedures will be physically harmful or unreasonably painful to me in a manner that cannot be alleviated by medication, I request that my desire for personal physical comfort be given consideration in determining whether this document shall be effective if I am pregnant. I have discussed these decisions with my physician and have also completed a Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) from that contains directions that may be more specific than, but are compatible with, this Directive. I hereby approve of those orders and incorporate them herein as if fully set forth. I have not completed a Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form. If a POST form is later signed by my physician, then this living will shall be deemed modified to be compatible with the terms of the POST form.
I designate , who may be reached at , as my Primary Physician.
including but NOT including . unless I initial the following line:
(YOU MUST DATE AND SIGN THIS LIVING WILL AND DESIGNATION
(YOU MUST DATE AND SIGN THIS DESIGNATION
IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO WITNESSES)
I affirm that this Living Will and Designation is not being made as a condition of treatment or admission to a health care facility. I have read and understand the contents of this document and the effect of this grant of powers to my . I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this declaration.
I affirm that this Designation is not being made as a condition of treatment or admission to a health care facility. I have read and understand the contents of this document and the effect of this grant of powers to my . I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this declaration.
I designate , who may be reached at , as my Primary Physician.
We, the undersigned witnesses, state that in the presence of each other and we have witnessed the signing of this living will by . Further, at least one of us is not a spouse or blood relative of .
We, the undersigned witnesses, state that in the presence of each other and we have witnessed the signing of this Living Will and Designation by . I have not been appointed as 's or Alternate . At least one witness is not 's spouse nor blood relative.
I have not been appointed as 's or Alternate . At least one witness is not 's spouse nor blood relative.
Date: ______________________________
Date: ______________________________
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of ____________________, ______ by , who is personally known to me or who has produced ________________________________ as identification.
Before me, a Notary Public (or justice of the peace) in and for said county, personally appeared the above named , ________________________________, and ________________________________, who acknowledged that they did sign the foregoing instrument, and that the same is their free act and deed. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name at ________________________________, this _____ day of ____________________, ______.
This instrument was acknowledged before me on this _____ day of ____________________, ______ by .
On this _____ day of ____________________, ______, before me personally appeared , to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he/she executed same as his/her free act and deed.
On this _____ day of ____________________, ______, before me, ________________________________, personally appeared , known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged that he/she executed the same as for the purposes therein contained.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.
_________________________________
My commission expires _____________
You should sign this document in the presence of a notary public. You should sign this document in the presence of two witnesses who then sign the document in your presence and in each other's presence. You should sign this document in the presence of a notary public and two witnesses who then sign the document in your presence and in each other's presence.(your Agent)
You should discuss the document and your wishes with any person you want to designate as an Agent before doing so to assure they agree to act on your behalf.
District of Columbia Advance Directive FAQs
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How do I make an Advance Directive in the District of Columbia?
It's very simple to record your medical preferences with a free District of Columbia Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Advance Directive - Provide a few details, and we will do the rest
- Send or share it - Look over it with your healthcare agent or get legal help
- Sign it and make it legal - Required or not, notarization/witnesses are ideal
This route is, in most cases, much less time-consuming than working with your average attorney. If needed, you can start an Advance Directive on behalf of your spouse, an elderly parent, or another relative, and then help them sign it when ready. Please remember that for this document to be accepted as legally valid, the principal must be mentally competent at the time of signing. In the event that the principal is already incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship might be required. When managing this situation, it's best for you to connect with a lawyer .
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Who should make an Advance Directive?
Every person over 18 years old should have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will) in place. Even though it may be difficult to think about, there might come a time when you are no longer able to make your own medical decisions. Common occasions where it may be useful to make or update your Advance Directive include:
- You are managing a terminal illness
- You will be planning to undergo a medical procedure that requires anesthesia
- You are preparing to move into a care facility
- You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issue
Regardless of whether your District of Columbia Advance Directive has been generated as part of a long-term plan or made in response to a change in your health, witnesses and notarization can help to protect your agent if a third party questions their power and authority.
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Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Advance Directive in Washington DC?
Making an Advance Directive is generally simple, but you may need advice. Locating an attorney to review your Advance Directive could take longer than you expect if you try to do it on your own. An alternate approach to consider is to get help via Rocket Lawyer attorney services. Rocket Lawyer members are able to request advice from an Rocket Lawyer network attorney with relevant experience or pose additional legal questions. As always, you can be confident that Rocket Lawyer is here by your side.
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How much would I normally need to pay to make an Advance Directive in the District of Columbia?
The cost of finding and working with a traditional legal provider to write an Advance Directive can total anywhere between $200 and $1,000, depending on where you are located. Different from many other websites you might come across, Rocket Lawyer offers more than an Advance Directive template. If you ever need support from a lawyer, your Premium membership offers up to a 40% discount when you hire an Rocket Lawyer network attorney.
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Will there be any additional steps that I will need to take after drafting a District of Columbia Advance Directive?
Your Advance Directive comes with its own series of tips for what is next after the document is finished. You are encouraged to take any of these actions with your PoA: making edits, saving it as a PDF document or Word file, and signing it. Finally, take care to ensure that your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties get their copy of your fully executed document.
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Does an Advance Directive need to be notarized or witnessed in Washington DC?
The laws for Advance Directives vary in each state; however, in the District of Columbia, your Advance Directive needs two witnesses. A witness should not be anyone who is financially responsible for your healthcare, nor should they be anyone who is an employee of your attending physician or healthcare facility. Heirs, beneficiaries, and family members (including adopted children or your spouse) are also prohibited. As a basic principle, witnesses will need to be at least 18 years old, and no witness should also be designated as your healthcare agent.
