Advance Healthcare Directive, Prepared by Voice
An advance healthcare directive — sometimes called a living will or medical power of attorney — tells doctors and family what kind of medical care you want if you cannot speak for yourself. VoiceWill helps you talk through these decisions in plain language and generates an attorney-ready document for review.
What a healthcare directive covers
- Who you appoint as your healthcare proxy or agent
- Your wishes about life-sustaining treatment
- Preferences about resuscitation (CPR/DNR)
- Artificial nutrition and hydration preferences
- Pain management and comfort care priorities
- Organ and tissue donation preferences
- Religious or cultural considerations you want honored
Why these conversations matter — even when you're healthy
Most people imagine healthcare directives as something only for the very ill or the very elderly. In reality, the most important time to document your wishes is before a crisis. A clearly written directive removes guesswork from family members during an emergency, reduces the risk of conflict between loved ones, and gives medical teams the clarity they need to honor your values. It is one of the most generous things you can do for the people who love you.
How VoiceWill structures the conversation
Vera, your voice guide, asks gentle, structured questions about your values and preferences. You can pause, change your mind, or come back later — there is no pressure to finish in one sitting. When you are ready, VoiceWill assembles a clean draft that follows the format expected in your state, names your healthcare proxy, and captures your treatment preferences in plain English.
Choosing your healthcare proxy
Your healthcare proxy (also called an agent or surrogate) is the person legally empowered to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot. Choose someone who knows your values, can stay calm under pressure, is willing to advocate for you, and lives close enough — or is reachable enough — to act in real time. You should also name a backup. Talk to both people before naming them.
Pair it with a financial power of attorney
A healthcare directive only covers medical decisions. To make sure someone can also pay your bills, manage accounts, and handle legal paperwork during incapacity, pair it with a financial power of attorney. VoiceWill prepares both documents in one guided session.
State-specific execution
Healthcare directives must be signed and witnessed (and in some states notarized) according to state law. After you generate your draft, check our state requirements reference for the rules in your state, and bring the final document to a licensed attorney or your medical provider for review.
Frequently asked questions
Is a healthcare directive the same as a living will?
They overlap. A 'living will' usually refers to your written treatment preferences. A 'healthcare directive' is the broader document that often includes both your treatment preferences and the appointment of a healthcare proxy.
Can my proxy override my written wishes?
Generally no. Your written instructions are intended to guide your proxy. A good proxy follows your documented values and only fills in the gaps where you did not give specific guidance.
Does this cover mental health treatment?
Some states have a separate psychiatric advance directive. Standard healthcare directives may include some preferences, but if mental health care is a priority for you, ask your attorney about a state-specific psychiatric directive.
How often should I update my directive?
Review it every few years and after major life events: marriage, divorce, a serious diagnosis, the death of your named proxy, or a move to a new state.
Will hospitals honor a directive prepared with VoiceWill?
Healthcare providers honor directives that are properly executed under state law. VoiceWill prepares the draft; you and your attorney are responsible for proper signing, witnessing, and distribution to your medical providers.
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