Your Guide to Advance Directives

Discover how advance directives empower you and your loved one to communicate your healthcare wishes while also providing peace of mind for everyone involved.

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Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions and guidance for healthcare-related decisions in the event that an individual becomes unable to communicate their wishes.

These documents allow individuals to make decisions in advance, before a health crisis occurs.

The goal is to alleviate potential stressors and ensure that the individual’s wishes are known and followed.

Advance directives include various types of documents such as a Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will, Do Not Resuscitate order, and a MOST form. These documents can be updated if your loved one’s goals of care change. Advance directives allow individuals to have control over their healthcare decisions and provide important information to their loved ones, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

Advance Directives are state-specific forms, which means that they are unique to each state. Please use the links below to access the form(s) that match your location.

North Carolina

An Advance Directive for North Carolina (PDF download)

Additional States

Visit CaringInfo to search for and download state-specific advance directives.

Planning Ahead