A New Hampshire medical power of attorney lets you assign a trusted adult to make health care decisions if and when you cannot make your own. The individual you pick, known as the agent, will handle most medical decisions and is legally obliged to act in your best interests. This form is also called an advance directive in New Hampshire.
Laws
- Statute: NH Revised Statutes § 137-J.
- Signing Requirements: Two witnesses or a notary public (§ 137-J:14).
- Only one witness can be the principal’s healthcare provider or an employee of this provider.
- Neither witness can be the agent, the principal’s spouse, or a person entitled to the principal’s estate.
- Revocation: You can revoke it with a written declaration delivered to the agent or health care provider, an oral declaration in front of two witnesses, an act that proves your intent to revoke the document, or the execution of another advanced directive (§ 137-J:15).
- If your spouse is the agent, getting a divorce, legal separation, or annulment revokes power and transfers it to your alternative agent.
- Healthcare providers must record the revocation time and date in their medical records and notify the agent, attending physician, and staff. The agent must also inform the physician and health care providers. The revocation takes effect once the attending physician receives notice.
Sample
