How to Complete an Oregon Advance Directive

Completing an Oregon advance directive takes three basic steps: get the state's official form, fill in who you want to speak for you and what kind of care you would want, then sign it with witnesses exactly as the form instructs. The form is free, and you don't need a lawyer or a notary for it to be valid in Oregon.

That's the short version. Here's how to do each step well — and how to make sure the document actually works when your family needs it.

What Is an Oregon Advance Directive?

An advance directive is a legal document that speaks for you if illness or injury ever leaves you unable to speak for yourself. Oregon has its own statutory form, which does two main things:

• Names a health care representative — the person you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf
• States your care preferences — the kinds of treatment you would or wouldn't want in serious situations

Every adult can complete one. You don't need to be sick, and you don't need to be older. The best time to fill one out is before anyone needs it. Our advance care planning page walks through how this document fits into the bigger picture.

Step 1: Get the Official Form

The Oregon Health Authority maintains the current version of the state's advance directive form, and it's available at no cost. Start there rather than with a generic internet template — Oregon's form matches Oregon law, and hospitals across the state recognize it immediately.

If a hospital, clinic, or hospice gave you a form, check that it's the current Oregon version. Forms change over time, and using the up-to-date one avoids confusion later.

Step 2: Choose Your Health Care Representative

This may be the most important line on the whole form. Your health care representative is the person doctors will turn to if you can't make decisions yourself.

Look for someone who:

1. Knows you well and understands what matters to you
2. Can stay calm and ask questions under pressure
3. Is willing to honor your wishes, even if they would choose differently
4. Is reachable — geography matters less than responsiveness

The form also lets you name an alternate in case your first choice is unavailable. We've written a full guide on choosing a health care representative if you're weighing options between family members.

Whoever you pick, talk with them before you write their name down. A representative who knows your wishes can advocate with confidence. One who is surprised by the role often struggles.

Step 3: State Your Care Preferences

The Oregon form gives you space to describe the care you would want in serious medical situations — for example, whether you would want treatments aimed at prolonging life if recovery were unlikely.

A few suggestions as you work through this section:

• Write in plain language. "I want to be comfortable and at home if possible" is more useful to a doctor than vague legal phrasing.
• Think about what a good day looks like for you. Your answers about treatment flow naturally from what you value.
• It's okay to leave room for judgment. Many people give their representative flexibility rather than rigid instructions, because real situations rarely match the ones we imagine.

If you're not sure how to think about resuscitation or life support, our plain-language article on DNR orders may help you sort out the vocabulary first.

Step 4: Sign and Witness It Correctly

An advance directive only works if it's executed properly. Oregon's form spells out its own signing and witnessing requirements — follow those instructions exactly, including who is and isn't allowed to serve as a witness. A directive that's filled out beautifully but signed incorrectly may not hold up when it matters.

No notary or attorney is required for the form to be valid in Oregon. If your situation is complicated — blended families, disagreements, significant assets — talking with an attorney is still a reasonable choice, but it's not a legal requirement.

Step 5: Share It — Don't File It Away

A directive locked in a drawer helps no one. Once it's signed:

• Give a copy to your health care representative and your alternate
• Give a copy to your primary care doctor for your medical record
• Tell close family members where the original lives
• Bring a copy if you're admitted to a hospital or enroll in hospice

Review it every few years, or whenever your health or relationships change in a big way. You can replace it with a new one at any time while you're able to make your own decisions.

How Is This Different From a POLST?

An advance directive is for every adult and covers future "what if" situations. A POLST is a medical order, signed by a clinician, for people who are already seriously ill. Many of our patients eventually have both. The comparison deserves its own explanation, so we've broken it down in POLST vs. advance directive.

How Engrace Hospice Can Help

Our social workers sit with patients and families through these conversations every week. If your loved one is on hospice with us — or considering it — we can help you understand the Oregon form, think through your choices, and make sure the people who need copies have them. We're a locally owned hospice based in Pendleton, serving Umatilla County, Morrow County, and Eastern Oregon.

Questions about advance care planning, or about hospice itself? Call us at (541) 263-7494 or reach out online. There's no charge and no obligation to talk it through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer or notary to complete an Oregon advance directive?

No. Oregon's advance directive form is free, and you do not need an attorney or a notary for it to be valid. You do need to sign it and have it witnessed exactly as the form's instructions describe, so read those instructions carefully before you sign.

Where do I get the official Oregon advance directive form?

The Oregon Health Authority provides the current statutory advance directive form at no cost. Using the state's official form ensures your document matches what Oregon law expects and what hospitals and care teams are used to seeing.

Can I change my advance directive after I've signed it?

Yes. You can complete a new advance directive at any time, as long as you are able to make your own decisions. When you do, share the updated copy with your health care representative, your doctor, and anyone who had the old version.

What happens if I don't have an advance directive?

If you can't speak for yourself and have no directive, Oregon law determines who can make decisions for you, and that person may not be who you would have chosen. Doctors and family members are left guessing about your wishes, which is stressful for everyone.