Free Georgia Medical Power of Attorney Form

Georgia replaced its separate durable power of attorney for health care with the Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care. Part One appoints your health care agent, Part Two covers life support and nutrition choices, and Part Three nominates a guardian.

The Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services, summarizes the rules under O.C.G.A. § 31-32-1 and following sections.

Who Can Sign

You must be of sound mind and either 18 or older or an emancipated minor. You sign yourself or expressly direct someone else to sign for you.

Two Witnesses, With a Twist

You need two witnesses. Georgia does not require them to watch you sign or to watch each other sign. You, however, must see both witnesses sign.

Who Cannot Witness

A witness cannot be:

• Your health care agent
• Someone who knowingly stands to inherit from you or benefit from your death
• Someone directly involved in your health care

Only one of the two witnesses may be an employee, agent, or medical staff member of the facility where you are receiving care. A physician or provider directly involved in your care also cannot be your agent.

Partly, yes. If you marry after signing, Georgia revokes the appointment of any agent other than your new spouse. Divorce works the other way: it revokes a spouse’s appointment.

That makes a wedding a good moment to review your Georgia medical power of attorney. If you still want a parent, sibling, or friend as your agent after marrying, sign a new directive.

Follow these steps to complete your Georgia medical power of attorney form:

1. Fill in Part One with your health care agent and any backups.
2. Complete Part Two if you want to record life support and nutrition choices.
3. Use Part Three if you want to nominate a guardian.
4. Sign the directive, or direct someone to sign it for you.
5. Watch both qualified witnesses sign, making sure no more than one works at your care facility.
6. Give copies to your agent and your doctors.

A Georgia medical power of attorney can give your agent a wide range of authority. According to the Division of Aging Services, that authority can include:

• Consenting to or refusing any type of medical care
• Admitting you to or discharging you from a health care facility
• Riding with you in an ambulance or air ambulance
• Examining and copying your medical records
• Consenting to an anatomical gift or an autopsy
• Directing funeral, burial, or cremation arrangements

Georgia does not let an agent consent to psychosurgery, sterilization, or involuntary hospitalization or treatment under the state’s mental health code. Your named agent may also decline to act.