If you’re searching for a reliable living will form Delaware residents can legally use, you’ve come to the right place. As an attorney-drafter and estate-planning specialist with over twelve years drafting and reviewing advance directives across the United States, I’ve helped thousands of Delaware families protect their medical wishes with clear, compliant documents. In this guide, I’ll give you a completely free, attorney-reviewed Delaware combined Advance Health-Care Directive that includes both a living will and medical power of attorney Delaware law requires — plus step-by-step instructions on how to complete, sign, and distribute it properly in 2025.
A Delaware living will (officially called an “Advance Health-Care Directive” under Title 16, Chapter 25 of the Delaware Code) is a legal document that lets you specify your preferences for end-of-life medical treatment if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It works together with a durable medical power of attorney (also called a health-care agent designation) so your chosen person can make decisions when you cannot speak for yourself.
According to IRS.gov and Delaware state reporting, over 70% of Americans still do not have any form of advance directive — yet having one prevents family conflict and ensures doctors follow your values, not someone else’s guess.
| Feature | Living Will | Medical Power of Attorney (Health-Care Agent) |
|---|---|---|
| When it applies | Only terminal illness or persistent vegetative state | Any time you lose decision-making capacity |
| Who decides | Your written instructions control | Your appointed agent decides |
| Flexibility | Rigid (only what you wrote) | Very flexible (agent adapts to new situations) |
That’s why Delaware law strongly encourages combining both into one document — exactly what the free template below does.
This 2025-updated template is drafted to comply with Delaware Code Title 16 § 2501–2518 and includes:
Enter your full legal name, address, and birthdate. Choose someone you trust completely as your primary health-care agent. Delaware does not allow your attending physician or employees of your health-care facility to serve as your agent unless they are related to you by blood or marriage (§ 2505).
The template includes the three most common scenarios Delaware courts and hospitals recognize:
You can direct comfort care only, full treatment, or something in between. Most clients I work with choose “provide pain relief even if it hastens death” — Delaware explicitly permits this.
Delaware gives you two options (Title 16 § 2503):
Both are equally valid in 2025. I recommend notarization if you plan to store the original in a bank safe-deposit box (witnessed-only documents can have access issues).
Yes — Delaware honors out-of-state directives if they were valid where executed (§ 2507). However, using a Delaware-specific form eliminates confusion.
Absolutely. You may revoke it at any time by:
No central registry exists in 2025, but the Delaware Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (DMOST) program complements your living will for patients with serious illness.
No. Delaware recognizes self-prepared documents that meet the witnessing/notarization rules. That said, many of my clients hire counsel to discuss complex family dynamics or blended families.
This article and the free downloadable Delaware living will form are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal or medical advice. Laws change, and your individual situation may require customization. Always consult a licensed Delaware attorney or qualified professional before finalizing estate-planning documents.
Downloading and completing your living will form Delaware compliant today takes less than 30 minutes and gives you peace of mind that cannot be measured. Click below to get your free 2025 Delaware Combined Advance Health-Care Directive (living will + medical power of attorney) right now.
Download Free Delaware Living Will & Medical Power of Attorney Template (PDF)
Sources: Delaware Code Title 16 Chapter 25 (Delaware Legislature website), IRS.gov estate-planning statistics 2024, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Advance Directive guidance 2025.
— Written by [Your Name], Esq. – Helping Delaware families protect their medical choices since 2012.