Advance Care Planning: A Complete 2026 Guide

Advance care planning is the process of documenting how you want to be cared for if you cannot speak for yourself. Done well, it spares your family the worst kind of decision-making.

The four documents 1. **[Healthcare directive (living will)](/healthcare-directive)** — written instructions about life-sustaining treatment. 2. **Healthcare power of attorney** — names the person who decides for you. 3. **[HIPAA authorization](/blog/hipaa-authorization-form-explained)** — lets providers share your medical information. 4. **POLST/MOLST** — for people with serious advanced illness, a portable medical order.

The conversation The documents matter less than the conversation behind them. Talk to your healthcare proxy in detail about what "quality of life" means to you, what trade-offs you would and would not accept, and what you fear most. Write the answers down.

When to do this - Every adult, by age 18 - After any new diagnosis - After any hospitalization - After moving to a new state - After the death of a previous proxy

Where to keep them - In your [personal vault](/personal-vault), accessible to your proxy - A copy with your primary care provider - A copy in your hospital chart on every admission

VoiceWill™ walks you through advance care planning in a single voice-guided conversation, producing all four documents in one sitting.