Planning ahead helps you prepare for the future and ensures your personal wishes are known and respected.
Unexpected events like accidents, illness, or death can occur at any time. It is important to write down your wishes and talk about them with your loved ones. Planning ahead can reduce stress and conflict for your family during difficult times and help protect you or someone you care about from mistreatment.
Use legal tools like an Advance Care Directive, Enduring Power of Attorney, Will, and organ and tissue donation decisions to ensure your choices are known and respected if you cannot express them in the future. Give certified copies to your loved ones, GP, legal team, and local hospital.
Complete an Advance Care Directive
An Advance Care Directive is a legal form for people over 18 to:
- Record their wishes for future health care, living arrangements, and personal matters.
- Choose someone to make these decisions if they cannot do it themselves.
Where to get your Advance Care Directive kit
- Online: visit the Advance Care Directives website to download, print or complete your Advance Care Directive online.
- Service SA: collect a free Advance Care Directive Kit from Service SA or have it delivered (postage fees apply).
- Local libraries: pick up an Advance Care Directive kit from selected local public libraries.
Advance Care Directive assistance
Some local councils hold information sessions or offer assistance to complete an Advance Care Directive.
The Legal Services Commission provides free legal advice. Phone 1300 366 424
Create an Enduring Power of Attorney
Creating an Enduring Power of Attorney allows someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs. This arrangement continues even if you become legally incapacitated, and decisions need to be made on your behalf.
Important to know: You cannot make a power of attorney after you have become legally incapacitated. If you still have legal capacity, you can cancel your enduring power of attorney at any time.
Purchase an Enduring Power of Attorney Kit
The Legal Services Commission of South Australia has Enduring Power of Attorney Kits available to purchase. The Kits include the forms you will need and explains how to complete and use them.
Services to help you
The Public Trustee provides Will making and Enduring Power of Attorney services to people who have certain concessions or are under administration or guardianship orders from SACAT or the Courts. To learn more and see if you qualify, please visit the Public Trustee website.
Other resources for Enduring Power of Attorney
Find out more about making a power of attorney on SA.GOV.AU.
Make a Will
Make a Will and nominate who you want your property and possessions (your estate) to go to after you die.
You do not need a solicitor to make a Will, but using one means your Will is legal and less likely to be contested.
If you do not have a legal Will, South Australian laws determine how your estate will be divided.
The Legal Services Commission of South Australia provides free information and legal advice on Wills. Or you could engage a private lawyer.
Record your wishes about organ and tissue donation
Registering for organ and tissue donation is voluntary.
You can record your wishes regarding organ and tissue donation by registering at Donate Life or on your SA driver's licence. All you need is your Medicare card.
Remember to talk with your family and those close to you about your decision.
Find more information on the Donate Life website.
Assistance for people with dementia
The University of Sydney - Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre and Advance care planning page offers resources to help people with dementia plan for their future. This includes planning for money, health, daily life, and personal matters, so they can make informed choices about their care.
Dementia Australia's Planning Ahead resources help make sure your wishes are respected as dementia progresses, giving you peace of mind.