Advance Healthcare Directive
Also called: advance directive, living will, healthcare directive
Updated June 7, 2026
Living will versus advance directive
The terms are often used interchangeably, but in some states they are distinct. A "living will" specifically records written instructions about treatment preferences. An "advance directive" may also name a healthcare proxy — the person authorized to make medical decisions if you cannot. Many states now use a combined form that covers both.
Where to keep it
Unlike a will — which only matters after death — an advance healthcare directive must be accessible during a medical crisis. Consider keeping a copy with your doctor, your healthcare proxy, and in a secure location your loved ones can reach quickly. The original should not be locked somewhere inaccessible in an emergency.
Related terms
- Healthcare Proxy — A healthcare proxy is a person legally designated to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make or communicate them yourself. The document appointing them — sometimes called a medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy designation — is separate from a financial power of attorney and limited to healthcare decisions.
- Durable Power of Attorney — A durable power of attorney is a legal document granting an agent authority to handle financial and legal matters on behalf of the principal, with the crucial feature that it remains in effect even if the principal becomes mentally incapacitated. "Durable" is the word that makes it useful for estate and incapacity planning.
- Power of Attorney — A power of attorney is a legal document in which one person (the principal) grants another person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) the authority to act on their behalf in financial and legal matters. A standard power of attorney typically becomes invalid if the principal loses mental capacity — unlike a durable power of attorney, which survives incapacity.
- Letter of Instruction — A letter of instruction is an informal, non-binding document that supplements a will or trust by providing practical guidance the legal documents do not cover — funeral wishes, a list of accounts and passwords, the location of important documents, explanations for unusual bequests, and personal messages to loved ones. Because it is not a legal document, it is flexible and easy to update.
Legatus Vault keeps your wills, trusts, and estate documents in one secure place and releases them — only when the time comes, and only after careful verification — to the people you choose.