An Advance Directive for Health Care detail the type of health care you do or do not want when you can’t make decisions for yourself. You should also appoint someone who can legally act on your behalf to make sure your wishes are carried out.

States have specific forms for these documents so health care professionals can easily recognize the document’s purpose. To make things more confusing, states use various terms to describe their advance directive forms. For your specific state, visit our Advance Directives For Health Care by State webpage or click the state name in the table at the bottom of this page.

What is an advance directive for health care?

Advance directive is the general term that refers to the various documents that could include a living will, instruction directive, health care proxy or health care power of attorney.

• A living will alerts medical professionals and your family to the treatments you want to receive or refuse. In most states this document only spring into effect if you meet specific medical criteria and are unable to make decisions.
• In a health care power of attorney (or health care proxy) you select the family member or trusted friend you want to make health care decisions for you when you unable to do so. In this document you should give directions to the person you select as your spokesperson (or health care agent or proxy) about the full range of care you want. It is very important that you talk about your health care wishes with the person to whom you giving the legal authority.

The Advance Healthcare Directive forms listed below can be used in most states. These are generic forms and are generally easier to complete than the forms provided by states. For the advance directive for health for your state, click the state name in the chart further down the page.

Advance Healthcare Directives By State

Alabama Advance Healthcare Directive

Alaska Advance Healthcare Directive

Arizona Advance Healthcare Directive

Arkansas Advance Healthcare Directive

California Advance Healthcare Directive

Colorado Advance Healthcare Directive

Connecticut Advance Healthcare Directive

Delaware Advance Healthcare Directive

Florida Advance Healthcare Directive

Georgia Advance Healthcare Directive

Hawaii Advance Healthcare Directive

Idaho Advance Healthcare Directive

Illinois Advance Healthcare Directive

Indiana Advance Healthcare Directive

Iowa Advance Healthcare Directive

Kansas Advance Healthcare Directive

Kentucky Advance Healthcare Directive

Louisiana Advance Healthcare Directive

Maine Advance Healthcare Directive

Maryland Advance Healthcare Directive

Massachusetts Advance Healthcare Directive

Michigan Advance Healthcare Directive

Minnesota Advance Healthcare Directive

Mississippi Advance Healthcare Directive

Missouri Advance Healthcare Directive

Montana Advance Healthcare Directive

Nebraska Advance Healthcare Directive

Nevada Advance Healthcare Directive

New Hampshire Advance Healthcare Directive

New Jersey Advance Healthcare Directive

New Mexico Advance Healthcare Directive

New York Advance Healthcare Directive

North Carolina Advance Healthcare Directive

North Dakota Advance Healthcare Directive

Ohio Advance Healthcare Directive

Oklahoma Advance Healthcare Directive

Oregon Advance Healthcare Directive

Pennsylvania Advance Healthcare Directive

Rhode Island Advance Healthcare Directive

South Carolina Advance Healthcare Directive

South Dakota Advance Healthcare Directive

Tennessee Advance Healthcare Directive

Texas Advance Healthcare Directive

Utah Advance Healthcare Directive

Vermont Advance Healthcare Directive

Virginia Advance Healthcare Directive

Washington Advance Healthcare Directive

West Virginia Advance Healthcare Directive

Wisconsin Advance Healthcare Directive

Wyoming Advance Healthcare Directive

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