Doctronic

Where to Keep Your Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney

Alan Lucks | MD

Medically reviewed by Alan Lucks | MD, Alan Lucks MDPC Private Practice - New York on December 27th, 2024.

Key Takeaways

  • Store original documents at home in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet—never in a bank safe deposit box, which may be inaccessible during weekends or after-hours medical emergencies.
  • Distribute photocopies to your primary care physician, designated health care agent, alternate agents, and at least two close family members to ensure multiple access points.
  • Carry a wallet-sized card listing your health care agent's name, phone number, relationship to you, and the exact location where your documents are stored (such as "bedroom dresser, top drawer").
  • DNR orders require immediate visibility—carry the signed physician form in your wallet or wear a medical alert bracelet, as verbal instructions from family members won't stop resuscitation efforts.
  • Update document locations with all parties whenever you move or change storage methods, and replace any copies that become illegible or damaged over time.

It's important to have a living will and health care power of attorney in place, but it's equally crucial to store these documents properly so they can be accessed quickly in an emergency. While you may want to keep the originals in a secure location, such as a safe deposit box, it's essential to have copies readily available to those who may need them.

Who Should Have Copies of Your Advance Directives?

  • Your health care agent and any alternative agents

  • Your doctor

  • Your hospital chart

  • Your closest relative

Your health care agent and any alternative agents should have a copy of your health care power of attorney and living will. In an emergency, they may need to fax these documents to doctors or a hospital. Your doctor should also have a copy of your advance directives in your medical record.

Where to Keep Your Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney

Where to Store the Original Documents

While copies of your advance directives should be easily accessible, it's important to keep the original documents in a secure location in your home. Make sure to inform your agent, family, and friends where you've stored them, as hospitals may request the originals.

Other Storage Options

  • Carry a card in your wallet or purse with your health care agent's contact information and the location of your original documents.

  • If you have a do not resuscitate order (DNR), you or your health care agent may need to produce a signed form or wear a special bracelet identifying that decision.

  • If a lawyer prepared your advance directives, ask if they will keep a copy and for how long.

For more information on the legal documents you should prepare and keep, consider purchasing Living Wills: A guide to advance directives, the health care power of attorney, and other key documents, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. By ensuring your advance directives are properly stored and accessible, you can have peace of mind knowing your healthcare wishes will be respected during an emergency.

The Bottom Line

Your advance directives are only effective if medical teams can access them within minutes during a crisis, making strategic distribution more critical than perfect storage. Keep originals secure but accessible at home while ensuring multiple trusted people have current copies and contact information. If you need help creating or organizing these essential documents, Doctronic can provide guidance on advance directive requirements and best practices.

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