Registration of Living Will and
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

Beginning January 1, 2007, you may choose to register your Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care with the Idaho Secretary of State. This service is free of charge and is designed to confirm your health care wishes to medical personnel in case you become medically incapacitated. In order to register your Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, it will be necessary to submit a letter to the Idaho Secretary of State along with your original document where it will be scanned into their computer system. The Secretary of State will then return your original document to you along with a card that has a personal code which will make your Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care accessible from an Internet connected computer to anyone who has your code. The Secretary of State’s office advises that it is wise to keep the card in your purse or wallet in case you become hospitalized and the medical staff need to gain access to your health care wishes. It is also advisable to give a copy of this code to your health care agent and physician so that they may gain access to your health care wishes in case you are unable to communicate your desires to the medical staff. In utilizing this new health care directive registry, you are creating a way to voice your health care wishes no matter where you are at the time they are needed.