State guide
Advance Directive Forms in Maryland
By Jason Su · Sources last confirmed September 14
We link to official sources only. We are not a law firm and we never write legal documents. The form you sign must come from an official or authorised source in your state.
What this document does
An advance directive is where you write down the healthcare treatment you would and would not want if you could not speak for yourself. In most states it also names a healthcare agent — the person who speaks for you when you cannot.
Where to get the Maryland form
Maryland Department of Health, Advance Directive Program publishes the current form here: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/ccdb/ADP/Documents/advance%20directive%20form%20-%20fillable%20pdf%2052025.pdf
Single form combines living will and health care POA.
Background reading: Maryland Department of Health, Advance Directive Program guidance
Maryland combines both documents into one form that gets revised
Maryland uses a single Advance Directive that does both jobs: it names your agent and records your treatment wishes. One document, one signature, one copy to hand out, which is simpler than the two-document arrangement in neighbouring states.
The form is published by the Maryland Department of Health, which runs a dedicated Advance Directive Program and keeps its own guidance alongside the form. That is a better starting point than a general search, because it is the same agency that maintains the document.
One thing to check before you sign: Maryland revises the form, and the version carries a date. An older copy saved to a computer, or pulled from a folder at a hospital or senior centre, may not be the one in use. Compare the date on the version you have against the one published now.
Where you keep it matters less than whether anyone knows it exists. Keep the original somewhere reachable, give copies to your agent and your doctor, and record where it lives in your checklist.
Maryland's form carries a revision date. Before signing, confirm yours matches the version currently published by the Maryland Department of Health. Older copies circulate widely and look identical at a glance.
National resources
- USA.gov — Official U.S. government portal.
- Medicare.gov — Official Medicare information.
After you sign it
- Sign it the way Maryland requires. Many states need witnesses or a notary. The form itself says which — follow the form, not a blog.
- Give copies to your healthcare agent and your doctor. A form nobody can find is a form that does not work.
- Keep the original somewhere reachable — not locked in a safe deposit box that needs a bank visit during an emergency.
- Add it to your checklist so your trusted contact knows it exists and where it lives.
Frequently asked
Is the Maryland advance directive form free?
Yes. Maryland Department of Health, Advance Directive Program publishes the current form free of charge, and we link to the official source only.
Do I need a lawyer to complete the Maryland form?
No. You can complete the form yourself. It must be signed the way Maryland law requires — usually with witnesses or a notary — so follow the instructions printed on the form itself.
Where should I keep my signed Maryland advance directive?
Give copies to your healthcare agent and your doctor, and keep the original somewhere reachable at home — not locked in a safe deposit box that needs a bank visit during an emergency.
Next: build your checklist and record where this form is kept.