NC Living Will & Advance Directive: Complete Guide

Your Healthcare Wishes, Documented and Protected

Imagine waking up after a serious accident, unable to communicate. A stroke has left you paralyzed but aware. Your family gathers around your hospital bed, and your doctor asks a devastating question: “What would your loved one want us to do?”

Without an advance directive, that question becomes a guessing game. Your family members may disagree. Your doctors may withhold care they could provide, uncertain of your wishes. Weeks or months might pass in medical limbo while your values remain unknown.

An advance directive changes that equation entirely. It is your voice, documented in writing, speaking for you when you cannot speak for yourself. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about creating a legally valid North Carolina advance directive, what to include, and how to ensure your wishes are honored.

---

What is a Living Will or Advance Directive?

An advance directive (also called a living will in North Carolina) is a legally binding written document that communicates your healthcare preferences if you become unable to make decisions. Unlike a traditional will, which distributes property after death, an advance directive governs your medical care during your lifetime while you cannot communicate.

The Different Names, Same Document

North Carolina uses the term “advance directive” in its statute (NCGS 32A), but many people use “living will” colloquially. These terms are legally synonymous in NC. The statute recognizes one unified document that addresses your healthcare wishes during incapacity. If you see forms labeled either way online, they refer to the same legal instrument.

Advance Directive vs. Traditional Will

The distinction between these documents is critical to understand:

• Advance directive: Active while you are living but incapacitated; addresses healthcare decisions; becomes effective immediately upon incapacity
• Traditional will: Effective only after you die; distributes property; requires probate court process

Many people need both documents. Your advance directive ensures your healthcare wishes are honored if you become unable to communicate. Your will ensures your property is distributed according to your wishes after you die. They serve different purposes at different times.

The Scope of Your Advance Directive

Your advance directive applies specifically to healthcare decisions, including decisions about life support, resuscitation, artificial breathing, feeding tubes, pain management, organ donation, and palliative care. It does not address financial matters. If you need someone to manage your finances during incapacity, you will need a separate financial power of attorney (a different document entirely).

How Advance Directive Differs from MOST Form

One important distinction: an advance directive is a general statement of your wishes, while a MOST form (Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment) translates those general wishes into specific medical orders. Think of your advance directive as the “why” (your values and preferences) and the MOST form as the “what doctors do” (specific actionable orders). An advance directive provides guidance that doctors must interpret; a MOST form is an immediate order that requires no interpretation. We will discuss MOST forms in detail in our separate guide, but understand that while an advance directive is always appropriate, a MOST form becomes relevant specifically when you have serious illness with a limited prognosis.

---

North Carolina’s Statutory Framework for Advance Directives

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 32A establishes clear legal requirements for advance directives. Understanding these statutes empowers you to draft a valid document and helps your healthcare agent enforce your wishes if doctors question their validity.

NCGS 32A-2: Statutory Definition and Basic Requirements

The statute defines an advance directive as a written document in which a competent adult makes a voluntary decision about healthcare. The basic requirements are straightforward: your document must be in writing, you must sign it, and it must be either witnessed by two adults or notarized.

The statute establishes that advance directives are not suggestions or expressions of preference; they are legally binding medical documents. Healthcare providers must recognize and honor advance directives as enforceable statements of your healthcare wishes.

NCGS 32A-3: What You Can Specify

The statute explicitly allows you to address several categories of healthcare decisions:

• Resuscitation (CPR)
• Mechanical ventilation (breathing machines)
• Artificial nutrition and hydration (feeding tubes)
• Pain management
• Organ donation
• Palliative care

You are not limited to these categories. The statute provides examples but explicitly allows broader healthcare wishes. You can include conditional wishes: “I want CPR if I have a temporary illness, but not if I have terminal cancer.” You can be as specific as your values require.

NCGS 32A-4: Healthcare Provider Immunity

Healthcare providers who follow your advance directive in good faith are protected from legal liability. This immunity protection is crucial because it encourages doctors to respect your wishes without fear of lawsuits from family members who might disagree. If a doctor implements your documented wishes and an outcome is less favorable than expected, the statute shields that doctor legally (as long as they acted in good faith).

The protection applies to healthcare providers, not to those who deliberately ignore your wishes. A doctor who intentionally disregards your documented advance directive would not have immunity protection.

NCGS 32A-5: Your Directive Controls Over Family Objections

This statute makes clear that your documented wishes take priority over family preferences, even if family members strongly disagree. If you document that you do not want artificial nutrition and your adult children object, the law supports your documented wishes. Your voice, expressed in advance, takes precedence over family consensus or individual family members’ preferences.

The statutory hierarchy of decision-making authority is: your advance directive first; then a healthcare agent (if designated under separate document); then family surrogate decision-makers. Your written wishes are at the top.

NCGS 32A-6: Healthcare Agent Must Follow Your Directive

If you designate a healthcare agent (through a separate healthcare power of attorney document), that agent’s decisions must align with your advance directive. The agent acts as your proxy, implementing the wishes you documented, not substituting their own preferences. The statute creates accountability: your agent cannot override your advance directive even if they believe a different approach would be better.

NCGS 32A-7: Provider Obligation to Honor or Transfer

Healthcare providers must make reasonable efforts to honor your advance directive wishes. If a provider has a personal moral or religious objection to your wishes, they cannot simply refuse care. They must transfer you to a willing provider. This statute prevents providers from disregarding your wishes based on personal beliefs; it ensures you can receive care consistent with your documented preferences.

Why This Statutory Framework Matters

Understanding these statutes serves a practical purpose. If your healthcare agent must enforce your wishes with hospital staff, knowing the specific NCGS citations can strengthen the argument. Your agent can cite the statute when explaining why your documented wishes must be followed. This statutory knowledge also ensures you draft a directive aligned with NC legal requirements, reducing the risk that your document will later be challenged as invalid.

---

Validity Requirements: Making Your Advance Directive Legally Sound

North Carolina has specific requirements for a valid advance directive. Strict compliance matters because a directive that fails to meet these requirements may be questioned or disregarded by healthcare providers.

Requirement 1: Must Be in Writing

Verbal statements about your healthcare wishes, no matter how sincere or clearly expressed, do not constitute a legally valid advance directive in North Carolina. Your wishes must be documented in a written document, whether printed or electronic.

Email, text message, or word processing document are technically acceptable if signed, but best practice is a printed copy. Many hospitals are unfamiliar with electronic documents and may hesitate to accept them. A printed, signed, and witnessed advance directive is more universally recognized by healthcare institutions.

Requirement 2: Clear Statement of Healthcare Wishes

Your document must explicitly state your healthcare preferences. Vague language weakens your directive. “I want compassionate care” is too vague; it could be interpreted multiple ways. “If I have terminal cancer with less than six months to live, I do not want CPR, mechanical ventilation, or feeding tubes; I want pain management and comfort care only” is specific and powerful.

The clearer and more specific your documented wishes, the more likely healthcare providers will confidently honor them without questioning your intent. Specificity removes ambiguity.

Requirement 3: Your Voluntary Signature

You must sign the document yourself. Your signature must be genuine, not forged. Equally important, your signature must be voluntary. If someone coerced or pressured you to sign, the directive may be invalid. You should sign the document in a calm, clear state of mind, not under pressure, heavy medication, or distress.

Healthcare providers assume signature validity unless evidence suggests otherwise. But if family members later claim you were coerced or lacked capacity when signing, the circumstances surrounding your signing matter.

Requirement 4: Two Witnesses OR Single Notary (Flexible Approach)

North Carolina gives you flexibility here. You can choose one of three approaches to meet the witness requirement:

Approach A: Two Witnesses The document is signed in the presence of two witnesses, both at least 18 years old. Both witnesses must sign the document, acknowledging they witnessed your signature. They should also date their signatures.

Approach B: Single Notary A notary public witnesses your signature and provides notarial certification. The notary’s seal and signature substitute for the two-witness requirement. You need a single notary, not two witnesses.

Approach C: Maximum Protection For highest legal protection, obtain both two-witness signatures AND notarial certification. This “belt and suspenders” approach provides redundancy if the validity of witnesses is later questioned.

Requirement 5: Witness Qualifications

Your witnesses must be disinterested, meaning they have no financial stake in your death. Witnesses cannot include:

• Your healthcare provider
• Any hospital or healthcare facility employee
• Anyone who stands to inherit from your estate or benefit financially from your death
• Possibly your spouse or direct descendant (though this is sometimes subject to interpretation)

Valid witnesses include trusted friends, clergy members, neighbors, unrelated adults, or adult children who are not named beneficiaries in your will. If you designate someone as your healthcare agent, that person typically should not be a witness, though this is not absolutely prohibited.

When choosing witnesses, ask them: “Are you disinterested? Will you benefit from my death?” If the answer is yes to either question, do not use that person.

Requirement 6: Witnesses Must Sign and Attest

Each witness must sign the document. Signature should be genuine. Witnesses should date their signatures. Ideally, each witness includes a brief statement: “I was present when [your name] signed this document. I believe they understand its purpose, and I certify they signed voluntarily.”

Best practice is to have all witnesses present at the same time when you sign. Everyone signs together, ensuring they all witnessed the same moment of signing.

---

What Healthcare Wishes Should You Document?

Your advance directive gives you the opportunity to express your values about medical care. The more thoughtful and specific you are, the more helpful your directive will be to your healthcare team.

Resuscitation (CPR)

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is an aggressive emergency intervention involving chest compressions, electrical shock, and medication. If your heart stops, do you want CPR attempted?

Many people assume they want CPR, but the reality is complex. CPR in elderly or seriously ill people often causes broken ribs and may not restore meaningful function. Consider: If I have advanced cancer and my heart stops, do I want CPR? Or do I prefer natural death without intervention?

Your advance directive should clearly state your preference: “Yes, attempt CPR if my heart stops” or “No, do not attempt CPR; allow natural death” or “Conditional: Yes for temporary illness; no for terminal illness.”

Mechanical Ventilation

If you cannot breathe on your own, doctors can place a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) attached to a mechanical ventilator. Be specific: Do you want mechanical ventilation? Under what conditions?

Some people accept ventilation temporarily (hoping to recover function) but not long-term. Your advance directive can reflect this: “Yes for temporary respiratory illness that is expected to improve; no for permanent unconsciousness.”

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (Feeding Tube)

If you cannot swallow, doctors can place a feeding tube. This decision is often the most emotionally difficult for families. Many people distinguish between: “Yes for temporary recovery; no if permanently unconscious.”

Your directive should address your feelings about feeding tubes explicitly, because family members’ emotions often complicate this decision. If you have clear documented wishes, those wishes control even if family members object.

Pain Management

State your priority clearly: Is pain control more important than extending life? Some pain medications (like morphine) can slightly shorten life by suppressing breathing. If you prioritize comfort over life extension, say so: “I prioritize adequate pain control even if it may slightly shorten my life.”

This clarity ensures doctors do not withhold pain medication out of fear of consequences.

Organ Donation

Specify whether you want to donate organs at death. Be specific: “Yes, donate all viable organs” or “No organ donation” or “Donate only corneas and kidney.” Register your choice with the NC DMV organ donation registry if possible.

Organ donation is separate from other healthcare wishes; specify clearly to avoid family confusion.

Palliative Care and Comfort-Focused Care

Palliative care prioritizes comfort, symptom relief, and quality of life over life-extension. State clearly: “If I am terminally ill, I want palliative care focused on comfort, not aggressive treatment.”

Palliative care is not the same as “giving up.” Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment. Many people want aggressive treatment initially, transitioning to palliative care if their condition becomes terminal.

Specific Conditions and Scenarios

The most effective advance directives address specific scenarios rather than general statements. Instead of “I want comfort care,” specify: “If I have terminal cancer with less than six months to live, I want comfort care only.” Or: “If I have permanent brain damage with no realistic hope of recovery, I want no life support.”

Conditional wishes give healthcare providers clear guidance for specific situations they may encounter.

---

Creating Your Advance Directive: Your Options

You have several paths to creating a valid NC advance directive. Each has different costs and benefits.

Option 1: Use NC-Specific Official Form

North Carolina Advocates for Justice provides a free advance directive template. This official form includes all statutory requirements and is recognized by NC healthcare institutions. The form uses plain language with checkboxes for common wishes.

Advantages: Recognized by NC healthcare system; includes all statutory requirements; free. Disadvantages: Limited customization; may not address your specific concerns.

Search “NC advance directive” or “NCAJ living will template” to find the form.

Option 2: Online Legal Service

Services like LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, and Nolo provide NC-specific templates, usually costing $50-200. Some offer bundled planning documents (advance directive plus power of attorney).

Advantages: Customizable language; sometimes includes explanations; relatively affordable. Disadvantages: Cost; may not tailor to your specific NC healthcare scenario; quality varies.

Verify that any online form complies with NCGS 32A requirements before using it.

Option 3: Write Your Own

You can write an advance directive in your own words, as long as you meet statutory requirements (written, signed, witnessed, dated). This gives you complete control and zero cost.

Advantages: Complete control over language; no cost. Disadvantages: Risk of ambiguous or invalid language; doctors may question validity.

If you write your own, have an attorney review it to ensure compliance with NCGS 32A.

Option 4: Attorney-Drafted Document (Recommended for Complex Situations)

An attorney can create a custom advance directive tailored to your specific values and health concerns. Cost ranges $200-500, often bundled with healthcare power of attorney and financial power of attorney.

Advantages: Professional review ensures validity; customized to your situation; attorney can coordinate with other planning documents. Disadvantage: Higher cost than DIY.

An attorney is worthwhile if you have complex family dynamics, serious health concerns, or desire comprehensive planning alongside your advance directive.

Recommended Approach: Official Form or Attorney Template

Using an official NC form or attorney-reviewed template significantly reduces the risk of invalidity. Clearer language means healthcare providers confidently honor your wishes. The minimal investment ($0-500) is small compared to the risk that an invalid directive creates confusion and delays.

---

The Signature and Witness Process: Step by Step

Creating a valid advance directive requires attention to the signing and witness process. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Prepare Your Document

Draft or obtain your advance directive template. Fill in your name, date, and specific healthcare wishes. Print two copies (one for signing, one for distribution). Review the document carefully. Ensure it accurately reflects your values and preferences.

Step 2: Arrange Witnesses or Notary

Choose two disinterested adult witnesses (or arrange a notary appointment). Call ahead to explain you need them to witness a healthcare document signing. If using a notary, schedule an appointment at a bank or notary office.

Choose witnesses carefully. They should not benefit from your death, should not be healthcare providers, and should be willing to sign the document. Best practice: meet at a neutral location.

Step 3: Gather Everyone and Review

Meet with your two witnesses or notary. Bring the advance directive document and two printed copies. Have each witness read the document (or at least verify you are about to sign it). If using a notary, bring government ID for identity verification. Discuss the document briefly. Ensure witnesses understand you are signing voluntarily.

Step 4: You Sign First

You (the declarant) sign the advance directive document. Sign in front of witnesses or notary. Use your normal signature. Date your signature. Witnesses should watch you sign.

Step 5: Witnesses Sign and Date

Each witness signs the document and dates their signature. Each witness may add a brief statement: “I was present when [your name] signed this document.” Notary provides notarial seal and signature (if using notary). All signatures should be original, not copies.

Step 6: Make and Distribute Copies

Once signed and witnessed/notarized, make multiple copies of the original document. Keep the original in a safe location. Distribute copies to:

• Your primary care doctor (request it be added to your medical record)
• Your designated healthcare agent (if you have one)
• Your attorney (if you have one)
• Your family members who should know you have a directive
• Keep one accessible copy at home for emergencies

---

Communicating Your Wishes to Healthcare Providers

A document alone is valuable, but communication amplifies its power. Here is how to ensure your wishes are understood and honored.

Give Your Directive to Your Doctor

Do not just mail the document. Bring your advance directive to your next appointment and discuss it with your doctor in person. Request that it be added to your medical record.

Discuss your wishes: Why did you make these specific choices? What experiences or values drove these decisions? Ask your doctor directly: Do you understand my wishes? Will you follow them?

A doctor who understands your reasoning is more confident honoring your wishes, especially if complex medical situations arise later.

Update Hospital Records if Hospitalized

Upon hospital admission, provide a copy of your advance directive to admissions staff and request that it be added to your hospital chart. Confirm with nursing staff that the directive is in your chart. When you are discharged, ask for confirmation that your directive was recorded.

If you are having surgery, confirm that your surgeon has reviewed your advance directive.

Inform Your Healthcare Agent

If you designate a healthcare agent (through a separate healthcare power of attorney document), ensure they have a copy of your advance directive. Discuss with your agent: What were your priorities? What concerns do you have? Walk through specific scenarios: If I had terminal cancer and could not eat, would you want me to have a feeding tube?

Ensure your agent feels confident implementing your wishes, even if family members disagree.

Update Regularly if Wishes Change

Your healthcare wishes may legitimately change over time. New diagnoses, life experiences, or philosophy shifts may alter your preferences. If wishes change, do not just tell family members; create a new advance directive explicitly revoking the old one.

Distribute the new version to your doctor, hospital, and healthcare agent. Destroy or mark the old document “VOID” to prevent confusion.

Discussion is More Important Than Document Alone

Healthcare providers are far more likely to respect wishes they understand in context. Verbal discussion of your values supplements the written document powerfully. When your doctor understands your reasoning, they are more confident honoring your wishes in difficult situations.

---

Healthcare Agent vs. Advance Directive: Complementary Roles

If you are creating an advance directive, you should also consider creating a healthcare power of attorney to designate a healthcare agent. These documents serve complementary roles.

What Your Advance Directive Does

Your advance directive documents what you want. It answers: What medical interventions do you want in various situations? The document allows you to communicate your wishes even when you cannot speak.

What Your Healthcare Agent Does

Your healthcare agent (designated via healthcare power of attorney) designates who decides. It answers: If I cannot make decisions, who do I trust to make them on my behalf? The agent acts as your proxy, implementing your documented wishes.

How They Work Together

If you have both documents, they work together powerfully:

• Your advance directive specifies your general wishes and values
• Your healthcare agent has the legal authority to make binding healthcare decisions
• Your agent’s job is to implement your advance directive wishes

Your agent should be given a copy of your advance directive. The agent’s role is to ensure your documented wishes are followed, even if family members disagree. The agent acts as your voice and advocate.

---

Special Situations and Considerations

Certain life circumstances may affect how you approach your advance directive.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you may want different healthcare wishes that account for pregnancy. Some pregnant people want CPR and aggressive treatment if pregnant (to protect the fetus), even if they would not want it otherwise. Include in your directive: “If I am pregnant, I want different treatment priorities.”

Specify: If you are pregnant and have a terminal diagnosis, should CPR be attempted?

Religious Beliefs and Medical Ethics

Some religions have specific healthcare preferences. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject blood transfusions. Some faiths prefer natural death. Include your religious beliefs explicitly: “My religious beliefs require…”

Healthcare providers must respect religious healthcare directives; make them explicit in writing.

Anticipated Family Conflict

If you anticipate family disagreement, strong documentation protects your voice. Obtain both two-witness signatures AND notarial certification (not just one). Have explicit family conversations before illness occurs. In your directive, state: “I want my documented wishes followed, even if family disagrees.”

Give copies to your healthcare agent and attorney for enforcement support.

Openness to Changing Your Mind

Your healthcare wishes may evolve over time. Do not worry about changing your mind. You can create a new directive anytime. Triggers to reconsider: new health diagnosis, major life change, reading others’ end-of-life stories. Annual review is good practice.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from others’ errors prevents your own.

Mistake 1: Not Witnessing or Notarizing Properly

Failure to obtain proper witness signatures or notary seal makes your directive potentially invalid. Strictly follow NCGS 32A-2 requirements. If uncertain, obtain both two-witness signatures and notary seal for maximum protection. Keep original documents with original signatures and seals; do not submit photocopies only.

Mistake 2: Using Improper Witnesses

Naming a healthcare provider, hospital employee, or financial beneficiary as a witness taints your document. Use only disinterested adults. Ask potential witnesses: Are you disinterested? Will you benefit from my death?

Mistake 3: Vague Wishes

Stating only “natural death preferred” leaves doctors guessing what you mean. Be specific about scenarios: “If I have terminal cancer with less than six months to live, I do not want artificial nutrition.” Conditional wishes help doctors apply your values to specific situations.

Mistake 4: Not Communicating with Healthcare Agent or Family

Your advance directive alone, without conversation, may be disregarded by providers uncertain of your commitment. Discuss wishes in person with your healthcare agent, family, and doctor. Have conversations before crisis. Written directive plus verbal discussion is far stronger than document alone.

Mistake 5: Creating Once, Never Updating

Wishes change over time. Review every 5-10 years. Update if any wishes have changed. Trigger events: new diagnosis, major health change, age milestone, life-changing experience. Annual review during routine doctor visits is an easy habit to establish.

---

Ensuring Your Wishes Are Honored: Practical Protections

Several strategies increase the likelihood your wishes will be respected.

Multiple Copies Strategy

Do not rely on a single copy. Distribute to: doctor, hospital (if anticipating admission), healthcare agent, attorney, trusted family member. Each copy should be identical with original signatures and notary seal. Multiple copies ensure the document is available when needed.

Medical Alert Identification

Medical alert bracelets or wallet cards can indicate an advance directive exists. Example: “Advance Directive on File; Contact [agent name] at [phone].” Emergency responders who find your medical alert can locate your directive.

Lack of Statewide Registry

North Carolina does not have a statewide advance directive registry, unlike some states. Your best option is giving copies directly to healthcare providers. You can notify the NC Secretary of State that you have an advance directive, but no official registry exists. Consider using online document storage services that allow emergency access.

Family Discussion for Dispute Prevention

Discuss your wishes with family while healthy. Explain your reasons; help family understand your values. Family who understand and support your wishes are less likely to conflict. Document family discussion (even if not legally required) to prevent later disputes.

Healthcare Agent Empowerment

Ensure your healthcare agent understands their role is to implement your wishes, not override them. Give your agent a copy of your directive. Review together. Explicitly state: “Your role is to ensure my wishes are followed, even if family disagrees.” Empower your agent to advocate; make clear they have your authority.

---

Revoking or Changing Your Advance Directive

Flexibility is built into the advance directive process. You can change your mind anytime.

Revocation Process

You can revoke your advance directive at any time, for any reason. No formal process is required. You can simply tear up the document, write a new document stating revocation, or make oral revocation to a witness.

Revocation is effective immediately; your old directive is void.

Creating New Directive

If your wishes change, create a new advance directive with updated wishes. New directive implicitly revokes old directive (courts presume most recent document is valid). Explicitly state in new directive: “This document revokes all previous advance directives.”

Date new document clearly. Distribute new version to doctor, agent, family.

Notification of Revocation

If you revoke your directive, notify healthcare providers to remove the old version from medical records. Call your doctor’s office; request removal from chart. Ensure hospital records are updated. Notification prevents confusion if old version is later found.

Flexibility as Strength

Your healthcare wishes may legitimately change. No penalty or judgment for changing your mind. Healthcare planning is dynamic; your preferences can evolve. Creating, revising, and updating directives is normal and encouraged.

---

How Afterpath Helps with Advance Planning

Creating an advance directive is one of the most important healthcare decisions you can make. An advance directive, combined with a healthcare power of attorney and MOST form (if applicable), creates comprehensive healthcare planning that protects your voice.

When you eventually need estate settlement, having these documents in place dramatically simplifies the process for your family. Afterpath’s platform helps families manage the entire estate settlement journey, but it begins with the advance planning you do now.

If you have already created an advance directive and healthcare power of attorney, you are well ahead in your estate planning. The next step is organizing your financial accounts and ensuring beneficiary designations are current (Articles 26-27 address this in detail).

---

Key Takeaways

• An advance directive is a legally binding document specifying your healthcare wishes if you become incapacitated
• North Carolina law (NCGS 32A) requires advance directives to be in writing, signed by you, and either witnessed by two adults or notarized
• Your advance directive can address CPR, mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, pain management, organ donation, and palliative care
• Clarity and specificity matter; conditional wishes (“I want X for condition Y”) are more helpful than vague statements
• Your advance directive must be communicated to your doctor and healthcare provider; discussion amplifies the power of written document
• Your advance directive and healthcare power of attorney (designating a healthcare agent) complement each other and should align
• You can change or revoke your advance directive anytime; flexibility is a feature, not a problem
• Creating an advance directive while healthy ensures your voice is heard even if you later become unable to communicate

---

What’s Next?

Now that you understand advance directives, the natural next step is designating a healthcare agent to implement your wishes. Our guide on healthcare power of attorney in North Carolina walks through selecting, empowering, and coordinating with your healthcare agent.

For those facing serious illness, our guide on MOST forms in North Carolina explains how to translate your general healthcare wishes into specific medical orders that emergency responders and hospitals will immediately recognize and follow.

You have taken an important step by getting informed. Your advance directive ensures your values and wishes are honored, even in your most vulnerable moments. That matters deeply.