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Advance Care Planning

4. COMPLETE: DO IT TODAY


What is an advance directive?

An advance directive is a document that an individual completes in advance that indicates the kind of care they would want if they were to be in an accident or become seriously ill. In addition, an advance directive allows an individual to name an agent or surrogate that can make health care decisions on their behalf in the event that they can’t speak for yourself.

Preparing Your advance directive

  1. Think about your values and goals for care if you were to become seriously ill.
  2. Talk to your loved ones and care providers about these values and goals.
  3. Choose an agent to speak for you if you were unable to speak for yourself.
  4. Complete an advance directive by downloading a form, making your selections and signing the form in front of two witnesses or a notary public.
  5. Give a copy of your completed advance directive to your agent, family members, care providers and hospital. Remember, copies of your advance directive are just as valid as the original.

Short form vs. toolkit

Know the difference between the advance directive short form and the advance directive toolkit.

View Infographic

Storing your advance directive

It’s best to keep your advance directive in a safe and convenient place We do not recommend that you keep your advance directive in a safety deposit box. This document needs to be easily accessible.

Importance of completing an advance directive

Listen to why our caregivers are completing an advance directive.

Learn More and Listen

Select your state to view language options and download an advance directive:

Alaska

English

  • Advance directive PDF form (long)
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

OTHER LANGUAGES


Chinese (Simplified)


Chinese (Traditional)


German


Japanese


Korean


Russian


Tagalog


Vietnamese

California

English

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -


Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

OTHER LANGUAGES


Arabic


Armenian


Chinese (Simplified)


Chinese (Traditional)


Farsi


Japanese


Korean


Russian


Tagalog


Vietnamese

Montana

English

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -


Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

OTHER LANGUAGES


Arabic


Chinese (Simplified)


Chinese (Traditional)


French


German


Japanese


Korean


Russian


Tagalog


Vietnamese

New Mexico

English

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -


Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

OTHER LANGUAGES


Arabic


Chinese (Simplified)


Chinese (Traditional)


Farsi


French


German


Japanese


Korean


Russian


Tagalog


Vietnamese

Oregon

Access Oregon Health Authority Advance Directives and Guides HERE

English

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

Texas

English

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -


Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

OTHER LANGUAGES


Arabic


Chinese (Simplified)


Chinese (Traditional)


Farsi


French


German


Japanese


Korean


Russian


Tagalog


Vietnamese

Washington

Please Note, the WA Advance Directive DPOAH no longer requires a notary and can be witnessed by a WA healthcare professional. See Guide for resources and video from Dr. Ira Byock

English

Spanish

  • Advance directive PDF form (long) -
  • Advance directive PDF form (short) -

Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Traditional)

Japanese

Korean

Russian

Vietnamese

Other States

Please select from the below links to find an advance directive for your state: