N.D. Cent. Code § 23-06.5-05

Current through 2023 Legislative Sessions
Section 23-06.5-05 - Health care directive requirements - Execution and witnesses
1. To be legally sufficient in this state, a health care directive must:
a. Be in writing;
b. Be dated;
c. State the principal's name;
d. Be executed by a principal with capacity to do so with the signature of the principal or with the signature of another person authorized by the principal to sign on behalf of the principal;
e. Contain verification of the principal's signature or the signature of the person authorized by the principal to sign on behalf of the principal, either by a notary public or by witnesses as provided under this chapter; and
f. Include a health care instruction or a power of attorney for health care, or both.
2. A health care directive must be signed by the principal and that signature must be verified by a notary public or at least two or more subscribing witnesses who are at least eighteen years of age. A person notarizing the document may be an employee of a health care or long-term care provider providing direct care to the principal. At least one witness to the execution of the document must not be a health care or long-term care provider providing direct care to the principal or an employee of a health care or long-term care provider providing direct care to the principal on the date of execution. The notary public or any witness may not be, at the time of execution, the agent, the principal's spouse or heir, a person related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption, a person entitled to any part of the estate of the principal upon the death of the principal under a will or deed in existence or by operation of law, any other person who has, at the time of execution, any claims against the estate of the principal, a person directly financially responsible for the principal's medical care, or the attending physician of the principal. If the principal is physically unable to sign, the directive may be signed by the principal's name being written by some other person in the principal's presence and at the principal's express direction.

N.D.C.C. § 23-06.5-05