A New Jersey medical power of attorney lets you choose someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you lose the ability to communicate. The person you appoint, called your agent or health care representative, is responsible for your health care decisions only if you can’t act for yourself. In New Jersey, this document is also called a durable power of attorney for health care or a proxy directive.
Laws
- Statute: §§ 26:2H-53 to 26:2H-67.
- Signing Requirements: Two witnesses or a notary public (§ 26:2H-56).
- Witnesses cannot be designated healthcare representatives.
- Revocation: The document becomes ineffective when you complete a POA revocation form, notify your doctor of the end of the agent’s authority, or create another POA document with different terms. Furthermore, any action that shows an intent to revoke can be sufficient. If your spouse or partner is your agent, getting a divorce or legal separation automatically revokes their authority (§ 26: 2H-57).
Sample
