An advance directive helps map out a variety of end-of-life decisions, such as whether you’d like to accept or refuse treatments that could prolong your life: CPR, the use of an AED, breathing machines or ventilators, medications, or artificial nutrition and/or hydration.

The short answer is simple: before you need one!

When you are sound of body and mind is the perfect time to draft an advance directive. You won’t have outside distractions or heightened emotions to complicate your decision-making process. There will be no rush, and you can put the proper amount of time and energy into selecting an agent and thinking about what you really want.

This is another reason why it’s good to draft an advance directive while you are healthy—it gives you the opportunity to let your physician know you have one, and to provide them with a copy. Take the opportunity to discuss your wishes with your healthcare provider. They may not be able to honor some of your wishes, in which case you will have time to find a provider who will, or revise your advance directive to outline a course of action that your physician can follow.

In short, you could be given medical treatment that you don’t want. Your doctor may consult with your family about what they feel is best, which can get complicated if family members have different opinions about what is best for you. Depending on which state you live in, your doctor may be required to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, without consulting with your family. Other states may court-appoint a surrogate or proxy. Every state is different in how they handle this situation, so be sure to consult with an estate planning lawyer who can answer your questions.

Yes, you can change or revoke your advance directive at any time. You should review not just your advance directive, but also your other estate planning documents regularly to make sure they are up-to-date. Read our blog about the 7 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan for more information.