New York · Standard edition

New York Living Will Template

Create a New York living will (advance healthcare directive) online. The Standard living will records your wishes on life-sustaining treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration, pain relief, and organ donation, names a healthcare agent, and includes the New York witness and notary requirements.

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New York rules built into this template

  • Governing law: New York law, which has no living will statute but honors written treatment wishes that are clear and convincing evidence of the patient's decision.
  • Signing: New York has no statutory signing requirements for a living will. To provide clear and convincing evidence of the declarant's wishes, the declarant should sign the living will in the presence of two adult witnesses. The appointment of the declarant's healthcare agent is effective only if made in a health care proxy signed and dated in the presence of two adult witnesses, neither of whom is the agent (N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2981).
  • New York provides an optional health care proxy form (N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2981(5)); signing a proxy with this directive is strongly recommended.

What the Living Will includes

  1. Purpose
  2. When This Directive Applies
  3. Healthcare Agent
  4. Life-Sustaining Treatment
  5. Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
  6. Pain Relief and Comfort Care
  7. Organ and Tissue Donation
  8. Pregnancy
  9. Copies, Revocation, and Reliance
  10. New York Signing Requirements
  11. Governing Law

Frequently asked questions

Is a living will legally binding in New York?
New York has no living will statute, but a clear written statement of your treatment wishes guides your healthcare agent and providers. New York provides an optional health care proxy form (N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2981(5)); signing a proxy with this directive is strongly recommended.
Does a living will need witnesses or a notary in New York?
New York has no statutory signing requirements for a living will. To provide clear and convincing evidence of the declarant's wishes, the declarant should sign the living will in the presence of two adult witnesses. The appointment of the declarant's healthcare agent is effective only if made in a health care proxy signed and dated in the presence of two adult witnesses, neither of whom is the agent (N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2981).
What is the difference between the Standard and Professional Living Will?
The Standard edition is a complete, state-aware Living Will for common situations. The Professional edition adds longer clause coverage, schedules, and optional modules for more complex matters. You can preview either edition free before you pay.

Living Will templates for other states

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Start your New York Living Will