What Are Advance Directives?

Other Maryland Estate Planning FAQs

• Q: What Is A Health Care Agent?
  A: A person you designate to make health care decisions for you, should you become incapacitated.
• Q: Who Can I Choose To Be My Health Care Agent?
  A: You can choose a family member or anyone else you trust to make health care decisions for your. Remember, your agent will have the power to make important decisions, … More
• Q: Do I Have To Choose A Health Care Agent?
  A: No. Whether or not you name a health care agent, you have the right to use the advance directive to state decisions about treatment issues that might come up. … More
• Q: What Is The Difference Between A Living Will And An Advance Directive?
  A: A living will is a more limited type of advance directive because you only make decisions about life­sustaining procedures in the event that your death from a … More
• Q: What Is An End-Stage Condition?
  A: It's an advanced, progressive and incurable condition resulting in complete physical dependency, like advanced Alzheimer's disease.
• Q: Do I Have To Use Any Particular Form?
  A: The Health Care Decisions Act sets out two optional forms, which can be downloaded from this site. The shorter one is titled "Living Will." The longer one is titled … More
• Q: Do I Need Witnesses?
  A: Yes. You need two witnesses to your signature on these or other forms.
• Q: Who Can Be A Witness?
  A: Any competent individual, including a doctor or employee of a health care facility. If you name a health care agent, that person may not be a witness. One of the … More
• Q: How Long Does An Advance Directive Remain In Effect?
  A: Once you make an advance directive, it remains in effect unless you revoke it. It does not expire.
• Q: Can I Change My Mind?
  A: Yes. You should review what you've written periodically, so that your advance directive always reflects your current thinking. You are free to change or revoke an … More