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Advance directives are legally valid throughout the United States.The laws governing advance directives vary from state to state, so it is important to complete and sign advance directives that comply with your state's law.

A durable power of attorney for health care names one or more people to make decisions for you if you become mentally incapacitated.A living will provides instructions to your medical team about care choices, but does not name an individual to make any decisions on your behalf.

The most common statement in a living will is to the effect that: If I suffer an incurable, irreversible illness, disease, or condition and my attending physician determines that my condition is terminal, I direct that life-sustaining measures that would serve only to prolong my dying be withheld or discontinued.

A living will is only valid if you are unable to communicate your wishes. A health care power of attorney gives someone else (the proxy) the ability to make decisions for you regarding your health care. Unlike a living will, it applies to both end-of-life treatment as well as other areas of medical care.

A living will can be revoked at any time. The document can take effect as soon as it's signed, or only when it's determined that the person can no longer communicate his or her wishes about treatment. Even if it takes effect immediately, doctors will rely on personal communication, not a document, as long as possible.

Keep in mind that you can always change your Living Will for any reason, at any time, by revoking it. To do so, you will have to do more than tear up your existing document. It remains a legally binding document until it is formally revoked. You are the only person who can change or revoke your Living Will.

A last will and testament and a power of attorney are two of the most common legal documents that authorize another person to take control of your affairs. Because these documents perform very different functionseven coming into effect during different circumstancesa power of attorney doesn't override a will.