A Michigan living will is the common name for a patient advocate designation. It is the document Michigan law uses to let you name someone to make health care decisions for you. It also records your wishes about medical treatment if you become incapacitated and cannot speak for yourself. Under Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.5506, it must be in writing and signed. Like most patient advocate designations, it typically takes effect once a doctor determines you can no longer make your own health care decisions.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Michigan law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Other states often split this into a separate living will and a health care power of attorney. Michigan combines both roles in one patient advocate designation. This form also lets you name a backup agent and record instructions about treatments such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, or tube feeding. That makes it a single tool for your health care wishes and who can act on them.
A Michigan living will introduces a few precise terms you will see throughout the form and this guide. Knowing what each one means before you sign can help you avoid a mistake that could make the document invalid or leave your wishes unclear.
Along with the patient advocate designation, this form includes a medical power of attorney section, so you can name a backup agent and give more specific instructions in one document.
Michigan’s patient advocate designation law, Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.5506, sets the signing rules for this document. It must be in writing and signed by you, and it must be executed in the presence of and signed by two witnesses. Both you and the person you name as patient advocate must be 18 or older.[1]
State law also limits who can serve as a witness. A witness cannot be any of the following:
By signing, each witness confirms that you appeared to be of sound mind and free from duress, fraud, or undue influence.[1]
Common mistake: signing without two qualified witnesses in the room, or using a witness the law disqualifies, is one of the most frequent reasons a patient advocate designation is challenged later.
Alternative names: some people call this document an advance directive, a health care power of attorney, or simply a living will. In Michigan, all of these point to the same patient advocate designation.
| Document Name | Michigan Living Will Form |
| State Law Term | Patient Advocate Designation (Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.5506)[1] |
| Signing Requirements | Signed by the declarant, executed before 2 witnesses[1] |
| Validity Requirements | Declarant must be 18 years of age or older and of sound mind[1] |
| Specific Powers | Care, custody, and medical or mental health treatment decisions[1] |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 13 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 48 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF; Microsoft Word |
[1]A patient advocate designation under this section must be executed in the presence of and signed by 2 witnesses.
Popular Local Living Will Forms
To build your living will in Michigan, download the form in any preferred format and fill it out, or use our online builder to complete it step by step. Michigan’s form combines the patient advocate designation with a medical power of attorney, so it covers both roles at once.
Once the form is signed and witnessed, keep the original somewhere safe and give copies to your patient advocate, your physician, and any family members who should know your wishes.
A Michigan living will is a patient advocate designation: a signed, witnessed document that names someone to make health care decisions for you and records your treatment wishes for when you cannot speak for yourself. Michigan’s version also works as a medical power of attorney, so one signed form covers both roles.
Yes. Under Michigan’s patient advocate designation law, Mich. Comp. Laws § 700.5506, the document must be in writing and signed by you, the declarant. Without your signature, the designation is not valid, no matter how clearly your wishes are stated elsewhere.[1]
Under Michigan law, you can make a patient advocate designation once you are 18 years of age or older and of sound mind. The person you name as your patient advocate must also be 18 years of age or older.[1]
Many people choose a spouse, adult child, or close friend who understands their wishes and is willing to make difficult decisions on their behalf. Naming someone you trust now can make those difficult decisions easier for your family members later, instead of leaving a court or hospital to guess.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
