Advance Directive Forms

Preparing an advance directive involves more than simply filling out a form. The time you spend thinking about the kind of care you want, or don't want, and discussing your wishes with your family and loved ones is much more meaningful than simply checking off boxes on a form. The written document is a good way to memorialize and record your thoughts and choices, but it is no substitute for time spent discussing those choices with your loved ones.

You might want to start out by visiting the American Bar Association's web site to learn the basics about advance directives. Then visit "On Our Own Terms" and read page 14 of the Discussion Guide. This will help focus your thoughts on what decisions you need to make now so that your choices will be followed when the need arises.

When you are ready to prepare your document, remember that each state has its own law, and sometimes, its own form. While it is usually not necessary to have an attorney help you prepare an advance directive, you may want to consult an attorney if the various forms you obtain do not fit your needs or if you have any special concerns. After you have prepared your advance directive, consider registering it with the U.S. Living Will Registry so that your choices will be available to health care providers and your family wherever and whenever needed.

By its very nature, this document is prepared well in advance of when it will be needed. Advance preparation leads to two problems: finding a safe, yet accessible place to store it; and making sure that it still reflects your wishes, even if it is not needed for 15 or 20 years. These problems point to the need for a central storage place, where health care providers can get quick and easy access to these documents, while maintaining privacy and confidentiality. The U.S. Living Will Registry has been storing advance directives since 1996. The Registry electronically stores the documents, and makes them available to hospitals and health care providers across the country 24 hours a day. Once registered, you are registered for life. Registrants receive a letter every year that allows them to update their personal and emergency contact information, and to confirm that their advance directive has not been changed or revoked. In this way, there will be no doubt that the document still reflects their wishes. Visit "How to Register" for more information.

Visit "How to Register" for information on registering your advance directive. You can read what current registrants say about the Registry by visiting the testimonials link.

Here are some sources for advance directive forms:

Your local hospital - Federal law requires all hospitals to provide information about advance directives to people in their communities, including information about the laws in your state. You can obtain information and a form by contacting the Patient Representative or Department of Social Services at your hospital.
The ABA site provides information and a good list of resources.
The NOAH site gives information about advance directives organized by state and some state specific forms.
The states listed below are linked to web sites that provide free advance directive forms. These links are provided as an easy and convenient way for you to find a form for your state. The U.S. Living Will Registry does not provide legal advice or legal services, and the Registry does not represent that the forms provided by these sites are legally valid. The Registry is not responsible for the content of the forms on these sites. State laws sometimes change, making forms obsolete. You should check with an attorney to make sure that the advance directive you prepare complies with the law in your state. Click on your state to download an advance directive form. When you click on one of the links listed below you will be leaving the U.S. Living Will Registry's web site.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Georgia #2 - Living Will
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana-Information
Indiana-Forms
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey-Complete package with forms
New Jersey-Form only
New Mexico
New York (forms available in English, Spanish, Chinese & Russian)
Nevada
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

To read and download forms from some of the above sites, you may need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

You can also visit the "Internet Resources" link for more information.