Advance Directives
Learn more about what advance directives are, the most common types of advance directives, and decisions you might need to make. You can also find answers to questions about advance directives many people ask.
What is an advance directive?
Advance directives are legal documents that describe the kind of medical care you want or don’t want if you can no longer make health care decisions for yourself. The documents will be followed if two doctors verify that you are at the end of your life (terminally ill) or are unconscious and unlikely to wake up again.
What are the most common types of advance directives?
The most common types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care (sometimes known as the medical power of attorney).
- A living will describes the type of medical treatment you would want or not want if you are terminally ill (can't be cured) or not likely to wake up from a coma.
- A durable power of attorney for health care lets you name a person to make your health care decisions if you cannot.
Advance directives are meant to guide your health care team and loved ones in making decisions that reflect your wishes. These decisions might include special treatments or emergency care.
Completing advance directives can help you think about the kind of care you would want if you can’t make decisions for yourself. They only apply to health care decisions and don’t affect financial or money matters.
Each state has laws about advance directives. Talk to your health care team or your lawyer about filling out advance directives when you are still healthy, in case you become too ill or are unable to make medical decisions for yourself in the future.
Why am I asked if I have an advance directive?
Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospice programs, and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are required by law to do certain things related to advance directives. They must:
- Give you information about your rights to make health care decisions according to the laws of your state.
- Find out if you have any advance directives.
- Accept your advance directives and honor your wishes.
- Never discriminate against you whether or not you have an advance directive.
These facilities can't force you to have advance directives: It is your choice. But they should work with you if you would like to have one.
Making decisions for your advance directives
You can make decisions about your health care and complete advance directives at any time. But it helps if you make those wishes known while you are healthy. That way, your loved ones know what you want in case they have to make decisions for you.
Making decisions for your advance directives can be hard. They include decisions about the treatment you would or wouldn’t want in life-threatening situations. Many people don’t want to think about that. But research shows that people who complete advance directives actually feel better about their future.
As you think about what you would like to include in your advance directive, it might help to:
- Learn as much as you can about advance directives which can include a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and other health care instructions.
- Get copies of the advance directive forms for your state. Check with your health care team, your attorney, or hospital near you. Or you can find links to the forms on the American Bar Association or the CaringInfo websites.
- Think about the care you want and don’t want if you can’t make decisions for yourself.
- Discuss your wishes with your spouse or partner, family members, close friends, health care team, and lawyer, so they are prepared to carry out your wishes.
- Decide if you want to designate someone to make health care decisions for if you can’t. This person will be your health care proxy or agent.
- Choose a health care proxy who you believe will carry out your wishes even if it may mean stopping life-sustaining treatments. Be sure they’re OK with doing this for you. You may also choose a back-up person in case your proxy is unable or unwilling to act on your behalf.
- Complete your advance directives and make copies. You will probably need to get your signature on these forms witnessed.
- Give copies of your advance directives to your health care proxy and your health care team. Keep more copies where they can easily be found so you can share them in case you are hospitalized or need emergency care.
If you need help filling out your advance directive, ask your health care team if they can help. An attorney might also be able to help you.
Before you get started
Before you create an advance directive, talk with your health care team, your loved ones, and at least one person that you might want to make health care decisions for you if you are not able (your health care proxy or agent). Tell them about your situation, wishes, and fears, because they are the ones who will help put your wishes into effect if you are unable to do so.
Be sure to get the advance directive forms and requirements for your state. Each state and the District of Columbia has their own advance directive laws. So be sure to know your specific state laws.
If you spend most of your time in more than one state, be sure to speak to your health care team and review each of the states’ laws.
You can usually get advance directive forms for your state through the American Bar Association or on the CaringInfo website. When you are ready to fill out your advance directive, your health care team might also be able to help.
You can also create a free advance directive, along with a will, on Giving Docs. Giving Docs is a safe, secure, free-for-life partner of American Cancer Society.
You can store your advance directive on the Advance Care Plan Registry and access it at any time.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Putting your health care wishes in writing. Accessed at cancer.net. Content is no longer available.
National Alliance for Care at Home. Advance directives. Caringinfo.org. Accessed at https://www.caringinfo.org/planning/advance-directives/ on June 24, 2025.
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Advance directives.2024. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/advance-directives on June 24, 2025.
National Institute on Aging (NIA). Advance care planning: Advance Directives for Health Care. .2022. Accessed at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning/advance-care-planning-advance-directives-health-care on June 24, 2025.
Silveira MJ. Advance care planning and advance directives. 2025. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/advance-care-planning-and-advance-directives on June 24, 2025.
Last Revised: August 1, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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