Ask the Expert

You want whoever is reading your documents to feel confident that you agree with everything that's in them. If your documents are more than five years old, it's time to renew them. Some states require that your advance directives be less than five years old to be valid. We recommend that you review these documents annually. Under your original signature write "reviewed on (date)" and sign.

We love our New England summers, but every year we winter in Arizona. We vote in Arizona and spend the most time there. Should our advance directives be Arizona documents?

If you spend significant time in more than one state, it's best to complete a living will and durable power of attorney for health care in each state. That way, you can be sure to have the necessary documents for both places of residence.