Putting It In Writing First
RCW 70.122.030 — a notary, or two witnesses from outside the family and the estate
In Washington, a directive to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment in a terminal or permanent unconscious condition is signed and acknowledged before a notary public, or signed in the presence of two witnesses.
Who may not witness. The witnesses may not be related to the declarer by blood or marriage or be entitled to any part of the estate. Nor may a witness be the attending physician, an employee of the physician or of a health facility where the declarer is a patient, or anyone with a claim against the estate.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionFamily members can witness | What the law actually doesWitnesses may not be related by blood or marriage |
| The assumptionWitnesses are the only route | What the law actually doesA notary's acknowledgment is the other |
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 Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 70.122.030 — Directive to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.