If you live in Indiana and want to create a living will – also called a Living Will Declaration or advance directive for end-of-life care – you’ve come to the right place. As an estate-planning attorney who has drafted and reviewed hundreds of Indiana living wills over the past 12 years, I’m sharing my exact template that complies with Indiana Code § 16-36-4 (effective July 1, 2025). Best of all, you can download the free Indiana living will form at the end of this article.
An Indiana living will is a legal document that tells your doctors and family whether you want life-prolonging procedures (such as a ventilator, feeding tube, or CPR) if you are in a terminal condition or persistent vegetative state and cannot speak for yourself.
Without a valid Indiana living will declaration, Indiana law defaults to providing all possible treatment – even if that contradicts what you would have wanted. According to the Indiana State Department of Health, only about 38% of Hoosiers currently have any advance directive in place.
| Document | Purpose | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Living Will Declaration | Refuse or accept life-prolonging procedures in terminal cases | Only terminal illness or persistent vegetative state |
| Health Care Power of Attorney | Names an agent to make all health decisions | Any time you cannot speak for yourself |
| POST Form | Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (bright pink form) | Last year of life; honored by EMTs |
Most of my clients execute all three, but the Indiana living will form is the only one that specifically lets you refuse artificial nutrition/hydration in writing.
Source: Indiana State Department of Health – Official Forms and Indiana Code 16-36-4
Below is the exact wording I use in my office. It has been updated for the 2025 statutory changes and includes optional clauses for artificial nutrition and pain relief that many free online forms omit.
Declaration made this _____ day of ________________, 20_____.
I, ______________________________, being at least eighteen (18) years of age and of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my desires that my dying shall not be artificially prolonged under the circumstances set forth below, and I declare:
If at any time I should have an incurable injury, disease, or illness certified to be a terminal condition by two (2) physicians who have personally examined me, and the physicians have determined that my death will occur within a short period of time without the use of life-prolonging procedures, and where the use of life-prolonging procedures would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process, I direct that such procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care or to alleviate pain.
Optional (check if desired):
☐ In the absence of my ability to give directions regarding the use of such life-prolonging procedures, it is my intention that this declaration be honored by my family and physicians as the final expression of my legal right to refuse medical or surgical treatment and accept the consequences of such refusal.
☐ I DO / ☐ I DO NOT desire that nutrition and hydration (food and water) be provided by gastric tube or intravenously if necessary to sustain my life.
I understand the full import of this declaration and I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this declaration.
Signed: _______________________________
Print Name: ____________________________
Address: _______________________________
We, the undersigned witnesses, state that the declarant signed this document in our presence and appears to be of sound mind and under no undue influence.
Witness 1 Signature: ___________________ Date: ___________
Print Name: ___________________ Address: ___________________
Witness 2 Signature: ___________________ Date: ___________
Print Name: ___________________ Address: ___________________
OR Notary Acknowledgment (recommended)
State of Indiana, County of _______________
On this _____ day of __________, 20____, before me personally appeared ____________________, known to me to be the person named above, who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged the same.
Notary Public: ___________________ Seal: _______________
Download Indiana Living Will Template – Microsoft Word (.docx)
Download Indiana Living Will Template – PDF (fill & print)
Do I need an attorney to create a living will in Indiana?
No. Indiana recognizes self-proven living wills with proper witnesses or notarization.
Is the old 1993 form still valid?
Yes, but the new 2025 language is clearer and includes the nutrition/hydration checkbox that many hospitals now require.
Can I combine my living will and health care power of attorney?
Yes – Indiana’s official combined “Advance Directive” form does both. Many of my clients prefer separate documents for clarity.
What if I change my mind?
You can revoke your living will at any time by destroying it, signing a new one, or simply telling your doctor verbally (if you’re competent).
In my decade-plus of practice, the single biggest regret I hear from families is “We never talked about this.” Taking 15 minutes today to complete your free Indiana living will form spares your loved ones from making impossible decisions later.
Disclaimer: This article and template are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Laws change, and your situation may have unique factors. Always consult a licensed Indiana attorney or your physician before finalizing any advance directive.
Last updated: November 2025 – compliant with current Indiana Code Title 16, Article 36, Chapter 4.