A Health Care Power of Attorney
Iowa Code § 144B.3 — a dated document that explicitly authorizes health care decisions, witnessed by two or notarized
An attorney in fact makes health care decisions only when the durable power of attorney for health care explicitly authorizes it, carries the date it was signed, and is witnessed by two people present together at the signing, or acknowledged before a notary.
- The attending health care provider, an employee of that provider, the person named as attorney in fact, and anyone under eighteen years of age may not be witnesses.
- At least one witness is not related to the principal by blood, marriage or adoption within the third degree.
- A document made under another state's law is valid in Iowa to the extent it is consistent with Iowa law.
Sources for this section (1)
- Iowa Code § 144B.3 — Requirements
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Iowa attorney.