Many of us have known someone that had to make the hard decision for a loved one who failed to write down their own end-of-life wishes -- most frequently with living wills.

There are actually three related documents that make up the most comprehensive set of advance directives:

A living will, which says how you want to be treated if you are not able to make your own decisions about using life-sustaining medical treatment. It can answer specific questions regarding things such as continuous medical treatment regardless of your medical condition, or request that feeding tubes be withdrawn or withheld under certain conditions.

A health care proxy, which authorizes one or more people to communicate your wishes regarding end-of-life treatment.

A health-care power of attorney, which authorizes an individual to communicate your medical instructions, hire and fire medical providers, access and provide your medical history, and consent to a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order.

If you split your time between two states, make sure you have forms that work in both. Also, talk with a lot of people in your family about your wishes, and carrying condensed versions of your health-care proxy and living will in your wallet.