Vacations and business trips should bring peace of mind—not worry. But what if something unexpected happens while you’re away and you can’t speak for yourself? Will your loved ones have the legal authority and correct documentation to make healthcare decisions on your behalf?
If you’re traveling with or without family, your healthcare documents—especially your Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will—should be part of your planning checklist. But that doesn’t mean you should be handing out copies to just anyone.
Let’s talk about the right way to manage your healthcare documents when you’re on the go.
The Risk of Sharing Photocopies of Your Healthcare Directives
Many people assume it’s safe to hand out photocopies of their healthcare documents to trusted individuals, especially those named in the documents as decision-makers.
But here’s the problem:
✅ Life changes.
✅ Relationships change.
✅ And so do your legal documents.
Imagine this: You name a close friend or relative as your healthcare agent, but months later, that relationship ends. You update your documents to remove them—but they still have a copy of the originals.
Now, they might mistakenly—or maliciously—attempt to use outdated authority in a critical moment. Even if they return the documents, you have no way of knowing if they made extra copies, scanned them, or shared them elsewhere.
Bottom line: Once a copy is out there, you lose control of it.
The North Carolina Advance Health Care Directive Registry
The good news? North Carolina provides a secure and centralized way to store and share your healthcare documents—without risking your privacy or control.
The NC Secretary of State’s Advance Health Care Directive Registry allows you to:
- 🔐 Upload your healthcare power of attorney, living will, and organ donation forms
- 🧾 Receive a registration card with a unique document ID and PIN
- 👩⚕️ Share that PIN with any hospital, doctor, or agent—only when you choose
- 🔄 Instantly update or revoke access if your decisions or relationships change
Benefits of Using the Registry:
- No physical copies required while traveling
- Immediate digital access from anywhere
- You can change the PIN at any time—no need to chase down old agents or copies
- Hospitals trust and recognize the state registry
This service is free, easy to use, and a smart way to protect your healthcare wishes—no matter where you are in the world.
How to Register Your Documents
- Visit the NC Secretary of State’s website.
- Follow the instructions to upload your signed documents.
- Receive your registration card with your access credentials.
- Share your access info only with people you trust—and only when necessary.
Keep Control, Even When You Can’t Speak
You wouldn’t leave your passport in the hands of someone you no longer trust—so why take that risk with something even more important?
At Sabrina Winters, Attorney at Law, PLLC, we help clients across North Carolina protect their healthcare wishes through smart, forward-thinking legal planning. From creating your healthcare directives to showing you how to register them securely, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Ready to Plan Ahead?
📞 Call us today at (704) 843-1446
🌐 Visit sabrinawinterslaw.com
📱 Follow us on Instagram: @estatelawyernc
Don’t wait for an emergency. Plan today—because tomorrow is never guaranteed.