State guide
Advance Directive Forms in Washington
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 Washington form
Washington State Office of the Attorney General publishes the current form here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/living-wills
Washington uses two separate documents.
Washington's forms come from the Attorney General, not the health department
Washington State keeps the two jobs in two separate documents: a Health Care Power of Attorney, which names the person who decides for you, and a Living Will, which records the treatment you would and would not want.
The unusual part is who publishes them. In most states the health department or the state bar handles this; in Washington the forms and the guidance come from the Office of the Attorney General. That changes only where you will find the right document, which is the Attorney General's site under living wills.
Because the two documents are separate, signing only one is easy to do by accident, and it leaves a predictable gap. A living will with no power of attorney records your wishes but gives nobody the authority to speak for you. A power of attorney with no living will puts a trusted person in charge of decisions you never described.
If you are also living with a serious diagnosis, your healthcare provider may offer a third document covering care given outside a hospital. That is separate again, and worth asking about if it applies to your situation.
Searching for a "Washington living will" can return results for Washington, D.C., where the rules are different. Confirm you are on the Washington State Attorney General's site before you download anything.
National resources
- USA.gov — Official U.S. government portal.
- Medicare.gov — Official Medicare information.
After you sign it
- Sign it the way Washington 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 Washington advance directive form free?
Yes. Washington State Office of the Attorney General publishes the current form free of charge, and we link to the official source only.
Do I need a lawyer to complete the Washington form?
No. You can complete the form yourself. It must be signed the way Washington law requires — usually with witnesses or a notary — so follow the instructions printed on the form itself.
Where should I keep my signed Washington 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.