Description
What This Document Does
An Advance Directive, often called a Living Will, allows you to make your medical wishes known if you become unable to speak for yourself. In Texas, this document tells your doctors and loved ones whether you want life-sustaining treatments—like ventilators or feeding tubes—if you are diagnosed with a terminal or irreversible condition.
Without this document, your family may be left guessing about your wishes, or worse—disagreeing about what you would have wanted. Putting your decisions in writing gives everyone clarity and peace of mind during a stressful time.
What You’ll Need to Complete It
To make your Advance Directive valid, you’ll want to gather:
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Your full legal name, date of birth, and address
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A clear decision about whether you want life-sustaining treatment continued or withheld in certain medical situations
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The name(s) of any trusted healthcare decision-makers you’d like to designate (often paired with a Medical Power of Attorney)
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Your doctor’s name and contact information (optional but helpful)
You don’t need to know every medical term or future possibility—the form is written so you can make straightforward choices that doctors understand.
How to Make It Official in Texas
In Texas, you can complete your Advance Directive in one of two ways:
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Two Witnesses – You sign the document in front of two qualified witnesses. Certain people, like your doctor or anyone who stands to inherit from you, cannot serve as witnesses.
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Notarization – Alternatively, you can sign the document in front of a notary public.
Either option is valid—you do not need both.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait
Most people put off creating an Advance Directive because it feels uncomfortable to think about. But the truth is, accidents and illness can happen unexpectedly. By acting now, you protect your loved ones from the burden of uncertainty and ensure your wishes are honored.
Don’t leave this decision to chance—take control today.
