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A Living Will lets you say what kind of medical care you want at the end of your life. It is also called an Advance Directive. A Living Will is helpful if you can’t talk about what you want.

A Living Will tells what kind of care you want at the end of your life. It helps if you get sick and can’t tell your family or doctors what you want. Without it, they won’t know what to do. For example, if you want a respirator if you are in a coma or vegetative state, or if you would want nutrition and hydration.

Many states have their own Living Will forms. You can write as much as you want about your wishes. You should give it to your doctors and your Healthcare Power of Attorney. You can change or cancel your Living Will anytime.

Living Wills and Healthcare Powers of Attorney are often made together. A Living Will is a piece of paper that tells healthcare professionals your wishes. A Healthcare Power of Attorney is a person you choose who can represent you during the same situation. This is only if you can’t make your own choices. These choices include what you wrote in your Living Will.

You can also tell your healthcare providers more about the care you want at the end of your life. You might want to fill out a Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST) or a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form. You can find these forms on the NC DHHS website (see Resources below).

In North Carolina, a Living Will is called an Advance Directive for a Natural Death. North Carolina has its own rules for this. The North Carolina form must be signed in front of two witnesses and a notary who must witness the two signatures also. You can find a notary near you on the Secretary of State website (see Resources below).

• You can download the North Carolina Advance Directive form.
• You may find a notary near you in North Carolina through the Secretary of State website. They usually charge a small fee (less than $10).
• You can download Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST) form.
• You can download the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form.