Types of Health Care Directives

Health care directives allow you to inform medical professionals and family members about what kind of care you want when you can't communicate those wishes yourself.

Living Wills and Powers of Attorney for Health Care: An Overview

If you're like most people, you aren't eager to spend time thinking about what would happen if you became unable to direct your own medical care because of illness, an accident, or advanced age.

Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders

Depending on your health and your preferences, you may want a DNR order when you’re thinking about end-of-life documents.

Mental Health Care Decisions and Psychiatric Advance Directives

Most states define health care to include mental health, and most health care directives cover issues of mental health.

How to Write a Living Will

Making a living will can bring peace of mind to you and to your loved ones because it explains what kind of medical care you want to receive when you cannot speak for yourself. Almost anyone can make a living will, but doing so may be most useful for those who are facing incapacity or for those

What Do a Living Will and Power of Attorney for Health Care Cover?

When creating your living will and your durable power of attorney for health care, you have many options and a great deal of flexibility. Following are some issues you may want to consider.

Choosing Your Health Care Agent

When you make a durable power of attorney for health care, the most important decision you will face is deciding who your health care agent should be.

Living Wills & Health Care Powers of Attorney in Your State

Select your state to learn about your state's laws.

Will Other States Accept My Living Will & Health Care Power of Attorney?

If you regularly spend time in more than one state, it’s smart to consider whether a living will, advance directive, or health care power of attorney made in your home state will be valid in the se

Finalization Requirements for Health Care Directives

After you complete your health care directive, you must follow your state’s rules about how to make it legally valid and binding.

Will Medical Personnel Honor My Health Care Documents?

After you've gone to the trouble of writing down your wishes for medical treatment in a living will or advance directive, you may be concerned about what would happen if a doctor or hospital didn't

Living Will or Advance Directive Registries: Should You Use Them?

One of the most important parts of making a living will or advance health care directive is making sure others know where to find your document if it becomes necessary.

Can I pay my health care agent for overseeing my wishes?

I want to give the person I have named as my agent in my durable power of attorney for health care compensation of $1,000 for doing the job. How can I arrange this?

What form do I use to be sure doctors pull the plug?

I heard about a legal document called a right-to-die form, where you state that if you become a vegetable your family or doctor  should pull the plug. Can you tell me about this form?

Should I put my health care wishes in my will?

I am planning on making a will. Aside from guardianship and distribution of property, can I state in this will that I do not want lifesaving measures -- or do I need to make a living will too?