By having documentation known as advance directives in place, you are expressing your wishes about the kind of medical treatments you want, and you are instructing a person you trust with your preferences for your care in the event you are faced with a serious injury or serious illness. By creating an advance directive, you will ensure that your loved one(s) or designated agent will make health care treatment decisions according to your wishes, and you will spare your loved ones the stress of making these decisions without your guidance.
Any person 18 years of age or older can prepare an advance directive. In order to make your directive legally binding, you must sign your document, or direct another individual to sign the document, in the presence of two witnesses who must also sign it to show that they believe you to be at least 18 years of age, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.