Signing Requirements
The designation of health care surrogate must be signed by two witnesses.[1] The surrogate must not act as a witness, and at least one witness cannot be related to the principal by blood or marriage.[2]
Power of Attorney (Preview)
Legal Definition
“Surrogate” means any competent adult expressly designated by a principal to make health care decisions and to receive health information. The principal may stipulate whether the authority of the surrogate to make health care decisions or to receive health information is exercisable immediately without the necessity for a determination of incapacity or only upon the principal’s incapacity as provided in s. 765.204.[3]
Revocation
The powers of the health care surrogate may be revoked at any time by the principal verbally, in writing, by destroying this document, or by signing a new designation.[4] If the surrogate is the principal’s spouse and their marriage ends, their authority as a surrogate will also terminate.