{"id":3833,"date":"2023-10-04T21:01:40","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T21:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/?page_id=3833"},"modified":"2026-09-30T23:39:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T23:39:34","slug":"finalization","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/finalization\/","title":{"rendered":"Finalization"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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FINALIZATION<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Making Your Advance Health Care Directive Official<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While in all states you are free to express your wishes regardless of what the state form says, you must meet your state\u2019s additional requirements. All states have them, especially as to the formalities of execution. Generally speaking, you must date and sign your directive in front of two witnesses and\/or a notary.<\/p>

In many states the witnesses cannot be certain people, such as your doctor and employees of your health care system or care facility.<\/p>

In a few states, such as Alabama, Michigan, North Dakota and Oregon, your health care agent must sign the directive agreeing to the appointment. Failure of the agent to do so does not invalidate the directive. But before\u00a0 s\/he can officially act, the agent (proxy or surrogate) needs to sign the original or a copy.\u00a0 If s\/he signs later, a copy of that document should be filed with all the people and places where the original and copies of the original were placed. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Here is a\u00a0link for all states where you will find restrictions as to who can be an agent.<\/a><\/p>

Here is a link for all states where you can find\u00a0restrictions as to who can\u2019t be designated an agent in a health care directive.<\/a><\/p>

You can find\u00a0state-specific advance directives on our resource page<\/a>.<\/p>

Here is a link to\u00a0California\u2019s execution pages.<\/a> California residents should add these pages (Part 5) to whatever they have written.<\/p>

It is a good idea to review and resign your directive every year, to prove that you haven\u2019t changed your mind. If it is too much trouble to re-execute it every year, then at least attach a note each year saying you\u2019ve reviewed it and that nothing has changed. Date and sign each note.<\/p>

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One Final Step: Distribution<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Your advance directive needs to be readily accessible. You must make and distribute copies. Below is where to put them; one or more may not apply to you. However, those in bold are a must: .<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Place copies in or with:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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