In our experience, most husbands and wives appoint each other as health care agent, with an adult child as an alternate agent. Many individuals appoint a close personal friend as agent or alternate. In most states, any competent adult can make an advance directive. The usual requirements are that the document be signed by the individual and by two witnesses. In some states, a notary public is required.
Most states have a model text for an advance directive for residents of that state.
Our practice is to follow the model text and incorporate other provisions if permitted. By doing so, the advance directive is in a form that will be familiar to a physician or hospital. Many clients have homes in more than one state. We recommend that a different advance directive be executed for each state in which an individual spends a substantial amount of time. We recommend executing several originals of an advance directive.