Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Armenia: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Support, and State Health Coverage

   • Outpatient mobile and inpatient palliative care: Under clinical protocols established by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, patients with progressive, life-limiting illnesses are eligible for specialized palliative medical care and maintenance services, delivered either through mobile home-visiting teams attached to local polyclinics or inpatient palliative units such as the V. A. Fanarjyan National Center of Oncology [1] [2].
   • Polyclinic referral and registration: To activate state-supported palliative care and regulated pain-relief prescriptions, the attending polyclinic specialist or oncologist records the clinical referral in the national ArMed electronic health system using the patient's passport/ID card and Public Services Number (PSN) [1] [2].
   • Basic Benefit Package (Petպatver) coverage: Patients who hold a certified disability status or qualify under targeted state-guaranteed medical care categories managed by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia receive subsidized hospital and palliative services under the State Order (Petpatver), which can be supplemented by voluntary private health insurance policies [1] [2].
2. 2

   Record Medical Treatment Preferences and Designate a Healthcare Representative

   • Patient rights and informed consent: Under the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Medical Assistance and Service to the Population (published on the Armenian Legal Information System), every patient with decision-making capacity has the statutory right to give or refuse informed consent to medical intervention and to designate trusted individuals who may receive confidential clinical information [2] [3].
   • Designating a medical proxy and recording treatment wishes: While Armenian law does not establish a separate statutory living-will registry, your family member can sign a written consent and treatment preference statement in their hospital or polyclinic chart under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia and execute a notarized mandate naming a trusted medical representative to communicate with physicians if they later lose the ability to speak for themselves [1, 2, 3].
   • Strictly prohibited interventions: Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are strictly prohibited under Armenian medical law, but patients retain the right to refuse disproportionate invasive procedures and to receive comprehensive pain and symptom relief [2] [3].
3. 3

   Execute Notarial Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • Notarized Power of Attorney (Liazoragir): Under the Civil Code of the Republic of Armenia, a Power of Attorney affecting property rights, state registries, social security representation, or banking transactions must be certified by a licensed notary operating under the oversight of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia while the principal retains full mental and legal capacity [3] [4].
   • Home or hospital bedside notarization: If your family member is physically unable to visit a notary office due to serious illness but remains mentally lucid and capable of expressing their will, a notary registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia can be scheduled to visit the hospital or home to verify capacity and execute the Liazoragir in person [4].
   • Commercial bank mandates: Because Armenian banks strictly verify the scope and validity period of powers of attorney, it is advisable to consider executing both a broad notarial Liazoragir and any bank-specific account mandate required by your family member's commercial bank while capacity is undisputed [3] [4].
4. 4

   Activate Disability Assessment, Social Benefits, and Caregiver Support

   • e-Disability functionality assessment: Apply through the Unified Social Service under the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for a medico-social functionality assessment (Anzi funktsionalutyan gnahatum) based on the treating physician's electronic referral [5] [6]. A certified profound or severe functionality limitation entitles the ill person to a state disability pension or allowance, free or subsidized essential medicines, and state-guaranteed medical care [2, 5, 6].
   • Caregiver leave and social care programs: Employed family members who care for a seriously ill relative may request temporary incapacity/care leave certified by the treating medical institution or unpaid family leave under the Labor Code, and vulnerable seniors or persons with severe disabilities can apply through the Unified Social Service for home social-care support programs [5] [6].
   • Representing the beneficiary: If the ill person has executed a notarized Power of Attorney, their designated representative can submit benefit applications and manage pension disbursements at any territorial center of the Unified Social Service [4, 5, 6].
5. 5

   Review the Will, Civil Status Records, and Property Documentation

   • Notarized Will (Ktak) and mandatory shares: Under the Civil Code of the Republic of Armenia (available on the Armenian Legal Information System), a will (Ktak) must be executed in writing and certified by a notary under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia while the testator has full legal capacity [3] [4]. Note that minor children and disabled or retirement-age children, spouses, and parents of the testator remain entitled to a statutory mandatory share (Partadir bazhin) equal to at least half of what they would inherit by law [3].
   • Verifying civil status and Cadastre titles: Check that birth, marriage, and identity records held by the Civil Status Acts Registration Agency under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia match the ownership certificates registered with the Cadastre Committee, and review beneficiary records on bank deposits and funded pension accounts [3] [4].
   • Cross-border coordination: If designated representatives, family members, or assets are located outside Armenia, powers of attorney and civil documents can be authenticated with an electronic Apostille (e-Apostille) through the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia or coordinated through consular services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia [4] [7].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Receiving Palliative Medical Care and Maintenance - Hartak National Services Gateway — Government of the Republic of Armenia
2. [2]
   Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia - Official Portal — Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia
3. [3]
   Armenian Legal Information System (ARLIS) - Civil Code and Healthcare Legislation — Armenian Legal Information System
4. [4]
   Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia - Notary and Civil Status Services — Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia
5. [5]
   Receiving a Pension and Disability Benefits - Hartak Life Events Guide — Government of the Republic of Armenia
6. [6]
   Unified Social Service of the Republic of Armenia — Unified Social Service
7. [7]
   Consular Civil Status and Legalization Services — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia