Final answer:
Advance directives must be witnessed by two individuals and notarized if the person is incapacitated or deemed unable by two physicians to make decisions. These documents communicate end-of-life care preferences without needing an attorney's oversight.
Step-by-step explanation:
Advance directives do not need to be written, reviewed, or signed by an attorney but instead need to be witnessed by specific parties according to state laws. Generally, the document must be witnessed by two individuals, and sometimes, depending on the state, it must be notarized as well. An advance directive applies if the individual is incapacitated or if two physicians believe the person is otherwise unable to make decisions for themselves. Advance directives can include a living will, which specifies treatments a person wishes to receive or avoid, and a health care proxy, which names someone to make medical decisions on the patient's behalf if they cannot.
It is also important to discuss and share these documents with family and medical professionals. The advance directive remains a personal and legal way to communicate one's end-of-life care preferences without needing to go through the court system or requiring an attorney's oversight — as long as the state's specific witnessing requirements are met.