1) Advance Care Planning & Legal Foundations

What it is:

A uniquely structured legal document in BC that allows you to name a trusted person (your "representative") to step in and make personal and healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become too sick or injured to speak for yourself. Unlike a regular asset Will, this document only functions while you are alive. 

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The Details:

BC has two main types: a Section 7 Agreement (for adults with altered or declining mental capabilities to handle standard personal care or routine banking) and a Section 9 Agreement (for fully capable adults giving comprehensive future healthcare authority, including the power to refuse life support). 

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British Columbia Links:

• Learn more or access standard planning forms here:  https://nidus.ca/ra-forms/

• Review the operational guidance provided by the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC Tools.

What it is:

The comprehensive, official provincial workbook provided entirely for free by the Government of British Columbia to guide residents through advance care planning.

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The Details:

Rather than just a dry legal form, My Voice acts as an interactive guide. It provides background explanations, covers planning prompts, and includes the actual blank, legally recognized templates for building an Advance Directive and identifying temporary substitute decision-makers. 

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British Columbia Links:

• Download the full digital document from the Government of BC My Voice Guide PDF.

• Read the breakdown of your rights directly on the main Government of BC Advance Care Planning overview portal.​​

What it is:

A binding legal document used to outline explicit instructions about which medical treatments you consent to receive or refuse in the future. 

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The Details:

In British Columbia, the official legal term for a living will is an Advance Directive. This document speaks directly to your doctors and medical team. For instance, you can state in advance whether you want or do not want specialized medical interventions, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilators, or artificial feeding tubes if you are facing a terminal state. 

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British Columbia Links:

• Review legal criteria and context via the Merchant Law Group BC Living Will Guide.

• See instructions on how medical teams read these by checking the Interior Health My Advance Care Plan Guide. 

What it is:

A vital legal instrument that gives a chosen person the authority to manage your money, bank accounts, business choices, and real estate properties.

 

The Details:

A "standard" power of attorney ends automatically if you lose your cognitive abilities due to dementia or a stroke. An Enduring Power of Attorney includes a critical legal clause stating that the document continues to remain active and valid even if you lose your mental capability. This ensures someone can pay your bills, manage property, and cover rent or homecare costs. It does not cover medical choices. 

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British Columbia Links:

• Download the official provincial template directly using the Government of BC Enduring Power of Attorney Form.

• Read step-by-step preparation advice from People's Law School BC Power of Attorney Guide.