Legal documents that allow you to plan and make known your own end-of-life wishes about health care and treatment in the event that you are unable to communicate. Advance directives consist of (1) a living willAn advance directive that guides your family and health care team through the medical treatment you wish to receive if you are unable to communicate your wishes. According to your state’s living will law, this document is considered legal as soon as you sign it and a witness signs it, if that is required. A living will goes into effect... More and (2) a medical (health care) power of attorney, sometimes called “health care surrogate,” depending on the state. (See Living WillAn advance directive that guides your family and health care team through the medical treatment you wish to receive if you are unable to communicate your wishes. According to your state’s living will law, this document is considered legal as soon as you sign it and a witness signs it, if that is required. A living will goes into effect... More and Medical Power of Attorney).
You can create a living willAn advance directive that guides your family and health care team through the medical treatment you wish to receive if you are unable to communicate your wishes. According to your state’s living will law, this document is considered legal as soon as you sign it and a witness signs it, if that is required. A living will goes into effect... More and medical power of attorney form without a lawyer. However, it is very important that you use advance directive forms specifically created for your state so that they are legal. Caring Connections (www.caringinfo.org) provides free advance directives and instructions for each state.