Free Michigan Medical Power of Attorney Form

Michigan calls this a patient advocate designation, governed by MCL 700.5506 and the sections that follow. An adult of sound mind designates another adult to make care, custody, and medical or mental health treatment decisions.

The Estates and Protected Individuals Code sets strict signing rules. Michigan moved its financial power of attorney rules to a new law in 2024, but the patient advocate sections remain in this code.

Two Witnesses Must Sign

You sign your Michigan medical power of attorney in the presence of two witnesses, who also sign it. A witness must not sign unless you appear of sound mind and free of duress, fraud, or undue influence.

A Long List of Who Cannot Witness

A witness cannot be your:

• Spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling
• Presumptive heir or known devisee
• Physician or patient advocate

Employees of your life or health insurer are also barred. So are employees of a facility treating you, a home for the aged where you live, or a community mental health program serving you.

A Required Statement

The designation must state that the authority can be used only when you are unable to participate in medical or mental health treatment decisions.

Yes. Before acting, your proposed patient advocate must sign an acceptance of the designation. A copy of the designation must go to them, and to any successor before that successor acts.

The acceptance must include a set of statements close to those in the statute. They confirm the designation works only when you cannot take part in decisions, and the advocate cannot exercise powers you could not have used yourself. They also note the advocate may revoke their acceptance at any time.

Take your Michigan medical power of attorney form through these steps:

1. Name your patient advocate and a successor.
2. Include the statement that authority applies only when you cannot participate in decisions.
3. Record your wishes about medical care, mental health treatment, and organ donation.
4. Sign before two witnesses who clear the disqualification list.
5. Give a copy to your advocate and have them sign the acceptance.
6. Share copies with your doctors and any facility treating you.

Michigan’s statute shapes both halves of the document, so the contents matter. A complete Michigan medical power of attorney has:

• The designation of your patient advocate and any successor
• The required statement limiting authority to times you cannot participate in decisions
• Optional statements of your wishes on care, custody, and treatment
• Any anatomical gift authority, with its after-death statement
• A signed acceptance from each advocate, with the statutory statements

There is no notary route in the witnessing rule, so plan on two qualified witnesses.