Putting It In Writing First
MCL 700.5506 — two witnesses, and a long list of people who may not be one
In Michigan, an individual 18 years of age or older and of sound mind may designate a patient advocate in writing. The designation must be signed, dated, executed voluntarily, witnessed by 2 witnesses, and made part of the patient's medical record before it is used.
Who may not witness. The patient's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, presumptive heir, known devisee, physician or patient advocate, or an employee of the patient's life or health insurer, of a health facility treating the patient, or of the home for the aged where the patient lives.
Only when the patient cannot decide. The designation must state that the authority is exercisable only when the patient is unable to participate in medical treatment decisions.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionAny adult can witness | What the law actually doesThe section excludes close family, heirs, the physician and others |
| The assumptionThe advocate decides from the day it is signed | What the law actually doesOnly when the patient is unable to participate in the decisions |
Who decides when nothing was signed, how a directive is revoked, and the forms a state publishes are not all on this page. Whether a particular document was executed properly is a question for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCL 700.5506 — Designation of patient advocate
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.