When You Can’t Advocate For Yourself

advance directives information Hub

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Key Things To Know

Advance Directives are legal documents that let you spell out your preferences for medical care if you're ever unable to speak for yourself, helping ensure your wishes are respected and easing the burden on loved ones.

  • Understand what an Advance Directive is: It typically includes a Living Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney, helping guide medical decisions if you can't speak for yourself.
  • Know the difference between a Living Will and a Health Care Proxy: A Living Will outlines your treatment preferences, while a Proxy designates someone to make decisions for you.
  • Choose a trusted person to make decisions: This is your agent or proxy—someone who understands and will honor your wishes.
  • Clearly define your wishes for life-sustaining treatments: Think about interventions like CPR, ventilators, and feeding tubes, and whether you’d want them.
  • Decide your preferences on pain management and comfort care: You can specify how you’d like to be kept comfortable, even if curative treatments are stopped.
  • Consider including organ and tissue donation preferences: You can express your wishes here, even if you’re also registered as a donor elsewhere.
  • Make sure the document meets your state’s legal requirements: Some states require specific forms, witnesses, or notarization.
  • Share copies with your agent, doctors, and close family: This ensures the right people have access if an emergency happens.
  • Keep a copy in an easily accessible place: Let loved ones know where to find it when it's needed most.
  • Review and update your Advance Directive regularly: Especially after major life events like a new diagnosis, marriage, or divorce.
  • Talk with your loved ones about your values and wishes: Conversations now help avoid confusion or conflict later.
  • Consider also completing a POLST or MOLST form: These are medical orders for people with serious illness or advanced age and work alongside your Advance Directive.

Create Your Advance Directives

Create Advance Directives With An Online Service

Online services offer a convenient and efficient way to create advance directives. These platforms guide you through the process with easy-to-use templates and step-by-step instructions, ensuring that your documents are legally sound and tailored to your specific needs.

MIDEO

Buried in Work Recommended

A simple and accessible platform for creating, uploading, and storing video and text based advance directives.

Often free for those with insurance, access your advance directive with a QR code and receive a wallet ID card and fridge notification ICE magnet.

Advance directives are created with the assistance of a licensed medical professional.

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MyAD

A simple and accessible platform for creating, uploading, and storing Advance Directives.

Free to use, you follow prompts to create or upload existing Advance Directives to a secure online storage platform.

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Create Advance Directives With An Attorney

Working with a lawyer to create your advance directives ensures that your documents are comprehensive, legally sound, and tailored to your unique circumstances. An experienced attorney can provide personalized advice, address complex situations, and help navigate any specific state laws and requirements.

This option is particularly beneficial for individuals with intricate medical preferences or family dynamics. By collaborating with a lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your healthcare wishes will be clearly articulated and legally enforceable, providing the best protection for your future healthcare decisions.

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Create Advance Directives On Your Own: Do-It-Yourself

Creating your own advance directives is an accessible and cost-effective option, especially for those with straightforward medical preferences and clear instructions. Many resources, including online templates, guides, and books, can help you draft these important documents on your own.

However, it’s crucial to ensure that your advance directives comply with all legal requirements in your state to ensure they are honored when needed. Properly executed advance directives can provide peace of mind, knowing that your healthcare wishes will be respected even if you are unable to communicate them yourself.

Five Wishes

The original user-friendly advance directive used by more than 40 million people. Available in 30 languages.

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CaringInfo

A program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, CaringInfo provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers to make decisions about serious illness and end-of-life care and services.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Advance Directives are legal documents that let you spell out your preferences for medical care if you're ever unable to speak for yourself, helping ensure your wishes are respected and easing the burden on loved ones.

An Advance Directive is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment if you're ever unable to speak for yourself. It typically includes a Living Will and a Health Care Proxy (also called a Medical Power of Attorney).

A Living Will spells out the kinds of medical treatments you want or don’t want in specific situations. A Health Care Proxy names someone you trust to make decisions for you if you can’t speak for yourself.

Yes. Together, they provide the most complete guidance. The Living Will explains your wishes, and the Health Care Proxy ensures someone can make decisions in real time if a situation isn’t clearly covered.

Pick someone you trust—someone who can stay calm under pressure, understands your values, and will advocate for your wishes. It doesn’t have to be a family member.

No. A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a separate medical order specifically about CPR. Your Advance Directive can express your preferences about resuscitation, but a DNR form is typically signed with your doctor and goes in your medical chart.

Not usually. Most states provide free forms you can fill out yourself. However, the rules vary by state—some require witnesses, others a notary. It’s smart to double-check.

If you can’t speak for yourself and don’t have an Advance Directive, doctors will generally turn to your closest family members to make decisions. This can lead to confusion, stress, or even disagreement if your wishes aren’t clearly known.

Absolutely. You can update it at any time. It’s a good idea to review it after major life events like a diagnosis, marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.

Keep a copy in a safe but accessible place. Give copies to your Health Care Proxy, your doctor, and key family members. You might also consider uploading it to a digital health record or registry if your state offers one.

Usually, yes—but it’s not guaranteed. Most states honor out-of-state directives as long as they don’t conflict with local laws. Still, if you move permanently, it’s smart to fill out a new form for your new state.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this website and by Buried in Work is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult with a qualified attorney or subject matter expert for advice specific to your situation.