Reflect
Consider your values, acceptable quality of life, care goals, treatment preferences and who should be involved in decisions.
Planning ahead while you can still speak for yourself.
Advance Care Planning, a Lasting Power of Attorney and an Advance Medical Directive each solve a different problem. Together, they can give your loved ones clearer guidance when difficult decisions arise.
Explains three complementary tools
Use this page to understand the purpose and limits of ACP, LPA and AMD, then follow the official links to begin.
Official information checked 18 September 2026General information only
Your medical, legal and family circumstances may require individual advice from a doctor, lawyer or qualified planning professional.
This guide is not legal or medical advice.At a glance
Different tools for different decisions.
No single document replaces the other two.
| Tool | What it does | Legal status | When it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACP | Records and communicates your values, care goals and healthcare preferences. | An ongoing planning process, not a legal document. | Guides loved ones and healthcare teams if you cannot decide or speak for yourself. |
| LPA | Appoints one or more donees to make personal-welfare and/or property-and-affairs decisions. | A legal deed. | Takes effect if you lose mental capacity. |
| AMD | States that you do not want extraordinary life-sustaining treatment used merely to prolong life. | A legal directive. | Applies only if you are terminally ill and unconscious, subject to the law’s requirements. |
Advance Care Planning
Express what matters to you.
ACP is a conversation and planning process, not simply a form.
Choose a spokesperson
You may nominate up to two healthcare spokespersons. Each should be at least 21 and willing to represent your wishes if you cannot communicate.
Document the plan
If you are eligible, you can begin through myACP with Singpass. People with serious illness or more complex needs should speak with an ACP facilitator or healthcare team.
Review it
Revisit your plan after a new diagnosis, a major change in health or function, or whenever your preferences change.
Lasting Power of Attorney
Appoint someone with legal authority.
An LPA lets you choose who may act for you if you later lose mental capacity.
Choose carefully
A donee may be authorised to handle personal-welfare matters, property-and-affairs matters, or both. Discuss your expectations before appointing anyone.
Standard powers
Form 1 grants general powers with basic restrictions and is the usual option for straightforward arrangements.
Customised powers
Form 2 is for tailored powers and must be drafted by a Singapore lawyer.
Capacity and voluntariness
A Certificate Issuer must certify the application. Even where an application fee is waived, the professional may charge a certification fee.
ACP spokesperson and LPA donee
They may be different people, but official guidance encourages appointing the same person where suitable to reduce uncertainty or conflict. ACP communicates your preferences; the LPA gives a donee legal authority.
Advance Medical Directive
A narrow directive for a specific situation.
An AMD is not a general refusal of medical care.
Check what it covers
The AMD applies when a person is terminally ill and unconscious. It directs that extraordinary life-sustaining treatment should not be used merely to prolong life.
Discuss it with a doctor
You must be at least 21 and meet the legal requirements. A doctor can explain the medical meaning and witness requirements.
Sign with two witnesses
Both witnesses must be at least 21 and present at the same sitting; one must be a doctor. The statutory independence rules also apply.
Register the directive
Send the completed form to the Registrar of AMD. It becomes valid only after registration and acknowledgement. You may revoke it later with at least one witness.
Working together
Build one coherent plan.
Align the people, documents and conversations so your wishes are easier to follow.
Explains your preferences
It gives context: what matters to you, what outcomes you value and how you would approach healthcare decisions.
Authorises decision-makers
It identifies who has legal authority to act if you lose mental capacity.
Gives a statutory instruction
It addresses one narrow end-of-life circumstance defined by law.
Make the plan usable
- Reflect on your values, care goals and acceptable quality of life.
- Choose your healthcare spokesperson and LPA donee carefully, and obtain their agreement.
- Complete each plan or document through the official service that applies.
- Tell trusted family members and your healthcare team what you have completed.
- Keep acknowledgement letters and important records where the right people can find them.
- Review the plan after major health, family or financial changes.
Official sources
Start with authoritative guidance.
Processes, forms and fees may change. Follow the current instructions on these official pages.
- Agency for Integrated Care: Advance Care Planning ↗ — overview, eligibility, planning steps and related guidance.
- AIC: Doing your ACP ↗ — spokesperson choices, myACP and facilitated planning.
- AIC: Questions about ACP ↗ — how ACP relates to LPA and AMD.
- Ministry of Social and Family Development: Lasting Power of Attorney ↗ — forms, powers, certification and application steps.
- Office of the Public Guardian Online ↗ — official LPA application service.
- Ministry of Health: Advance Medical Directive ↗ — legal requirements, forms and revocation information.
- My Legacy: end-of-life planning ↗ — official planning resources in one place.