# 16 Del. C. § 2503: § Â 2503. Capacity

> Delaware · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2503

## Section

- **Citation:** 16 Del. C. § 2503
- **Heading:** § Â 2503. Capacity
- **Jurisdiction:** Delaware
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Delaware Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 2503

## Text

(a) An individual has capacity for the purpose of this chapter if the individual is willing and able to communicate a decision independently or with appropriate services, technological assistance, supported decision making, or other reasonable accommodation and in making or revoking:

(1) A health-care decision, understands the nature and consequences of the decision, including the primary risks and benefits of the decision.

(2) A health-care instruction, understands the nature and consequences of the instruction, including the primary risks and benefits of the choices expressed in the instruction.

(3) An appointment of an agent under a health-care power of attorney or identification of a default surrogate under § 2512(b)(1) of this title, recognizes the identity of the individual being appointed or identified and understands the general nature of the relationship of the individual making the appointment or identification with the individual being appointed or identified.

(b) The right of an individual who has capacity to make a decision about the individual’s health care is not affected by whether the individual creates or revokes an advance health-care directive.

## Nearby sections

- [16 Del. C. § 2501 § Â
        2501. Short title.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2501.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2502 § Â
        2502. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2502.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2503 § Â
        2503. Capacity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2503.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2504 § Â
        2504. Presumption of capacity; overcoming presumption.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2504.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2505 § Â
        2505. Notice of finding of lack of capacity; right to object.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2505.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2506 § Â
        2506. Judicial review of finding of lack of capacity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2506.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2507 § Â
        2507. Health-care instruction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2507.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2508 § Â
        2508. Power of attorney for health care.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2508.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2509 § Â
        2509. Advance mental health-care directive.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2509.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2510 § Â
        2510. Relationship of advance mental health-care directive and other advance health-care directive.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2510.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2511 § Â
        2511. Optional form.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2511.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2512 § Â
        2512. Default surrogate.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2512.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2513 § Â
        2513. Disagreement among default surrogates.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2513.md)
- [16 Del. C. § 2514 § Â
        2514. Disqualification to act as default surrogate.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2514.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DE_T16_C25_S2503. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.