An Advance Care Directive That Speaks for You
If you can't make medical or lifestyle decisions for yourself, an advance care directive lets your loved ones follow the choices you would have made.
- Medical, lifestyle, and end-of-life decisions covered
- Substitute decision-maker appointed
- Drafted to reflect your values - not a template
What’s included
- Appointed substitute decision-maker (SDM)
- Instructions for medical, dental, lifestyle, and end-of-life care
- Values and preferences statement
- Refusal-of-treatment clauses where relevant
- SA Advance Care Directive form, properly completed
- Authorised witness sign-off
Without an ACD, strangers make your medical choices
Without an advance care directive, decisions about your care fall to family members in the middle of a crisis - and sometimes to doctors, SACAT, or the Public Advocate. People who love you end up arguing about what you would have wanted. An ACD avoids that by setting out your choices clearly, in your own words, before anything happens.
- Choose who makes medical decisions if you can't
- Record values, beliefs, and preferences - not just a tick-box form
- Include end-of-life instructions (CPR, feeding tubes, palliative care)
- Spares your family the guilt of guessing
A clear process, not a legal maze.
Talk through your values
We start with a conversation, not a form. What matters to you in life? What kind of care would you accept - and what wouldn't you?
Sam drafts the ACD
Sam prepares the official SA ACD form, translating your conversation into the legal structure the document requires. Nothing generic.
Sign with an authorised witness
SA ACDs require an authorised witness. Sam is one. We sign, give you certified copies, and store the original somewhere you can find it.
Here’s what you get when you work with Sam.
Sam did wills for my extended family and he was not only lovely to deal with, but efficient and very knowledgable. I wouldn't hesitate to refer my family and friends to him.
Frequently asked questions
An advance care directive (ACD) is a legal document that lets you record your wishes for medical, lifestyle, and end-of-life care if you lose capacity to speak for yourself. It can also appoint a substitute decision-maker (SDM) who can give consent on your behalf.
Both come into effect if you lose capacity, but they cover different areas. An EPA handles financial and legal decisions. An ACD handles medical, lifestyle, and end-of-life decisions. Most people have both - they work alongside each other.
A standalone Advance Care Directive is $200 for a single person and $400 for a couple (ex-GST). When bundled with a Will and EPA, the full package starts at $1,000 single and $1,500 couple.
South Australian ACDs must be witnessed by an authorised witness - lawyers, JPs, and certain health professionals. Sam is authorised to witness ACDs.
Yes. Under the Advance Care Directives Act 2013 (SA), hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers must follow a valid ACD. They also must follow the decisions of your nominated substitute decision-maker within the limits you've set.
Yes - any time you still have capacity. A new ACD replaces the old one. We recommend reviewing your ACD every 3 years or when your health circumstances change significantly.
You may also want to look at
Enduring Powers of Attorney
An EPA lets someone you trust manage your finances if you lose capacity.
Learn moreWills
A clear, legally sound will drafted with your family's circumstances in mind.
Learn moreTestamentary Trusts
A testamentary trust turns your will into a shield - protecting beneficiaries, unlocking tax advantages, and keeping assets inside the family.
Learn moreMake your wishes known, before you need them
Book a quiet conversation with Sam. Most ACDs can be drafted and signed in two appointments - one to discuss, one to sign.
- Free 20-minute initial conversation
- Fixed-fee quotes before any work begins
- Home visits available across Adelaide
- Typically 2 weeks to signed documents