Advanced medical directives allow a person to communicate his or her wishes about potential future medical treatments. These documents may be created along with a medical power of attorney, which designates a person to oversee medical decisions during times when someone is unable to do so on his or her own. Deciding to seek out an estate planning attorney and create advanced medical directives can seem unnecessary if a person is young and healthy; however, planning for the future is the best way to avoid unpredictable outcomes if things take a turn for the worse.

There are various types of advanced directives. Some people may choose to use just one of the options, while others may complete all of the available legal documents.