Simple Living Wills

What families say after preparing their documents

We work with people who want clarity, not paperwork. The feedback below reflects what matters most to them: knowing their wishes are recorded correctly and their family is spared difficult guesses.

My mother had been postponing this for years. The guided process made it simple for her to state her preferences about palliative care without feeling rushed or pressured. We left with a registered document and a much lighter conversation at home.

Daughter of a client, Porto

I needed to name a healthcare proxy and was unsure how to phrase my wishes about life-sustaining treatment. The preparation session helped me translate my concerns into clear, legally valid language. My family now knows exactly where I stand.

Client, 68, chronic condition

What impressed me was the attention to Portuguese law. The team explained how RENTEV works and what happens if my document needs to be updated. It felt practical, not theoretical.

Client, Lisbon

Three ways to prepare your advance directive

Each option covers the same legal foundation, but the level of support differs. Choose the one that matches how much guidance you want from us.

Essential

For people who know what they want to say and just need the correct form. You receive the Portuguese living will template, a short guide on filling it out, and instructions for submitting it to RENTEV.

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Guided

Adds a one-hour consultation with our team. We review your draft together, clarify any medical terms, and make sure your choices are expressed in a way that healthcare providers will understand.

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Family

Designed for couples or parents and adult children preparing documents together. Includes two consultations, help naming a healthcare proxy, and a written summary of your decisions to share with your doctor.

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What this service covers

You may be wondering what exactly goes into an advance directive and whether the paperwork matches how care actually works in Portugal. These are the areas where most families need help, and where the service provides concrete support.

Testamento vital

The living will itself, drafted to comply with Portuguese law and registered with RENTEV. You receive a document that states your treatment preferences clearly, so medical staff know your wishes even if you cannot communicate them.

Healthcare proxy appointment

Guidance on choosing the right person to represent you and the legal form to name them. This includes practical advice on what to discuss with that person beforehand, so they understand your values and feel prepared to act on them.

Palliative care preferences

Help defining what comfort care means to you, from pain management to where you would prefer to receive treatment. The document reflects realistic options available through the Portuguese health system, not abstract ideals.

Chronic illness and ageing situations

Specific attention for people living with progressive conditions or supporting elderly relatives. The focus is on documenting decisions that reduce future uncertainty for everyone involved.

Each document is prepared individually, with time taken to understand your situation before anything is written. The result is a clear, valid record of your choices, not a generic form.

Ask about your situation

What this document does and does not cover

A living will is a statement of your preferences, not a binding instruction for every possible medical situation. The points below clarify how your advance directive will be read by healthcare teams in Portugal.

Treatment preferences are guidance, not absolute commands

Your document records your wishes about treatments you would accept or refuse. In practice, doctors will apply your preferences to the specific clinical situation at hand, considering what is medically appropriate. For example, a refusal of resuscitation does not mean refusing pain relief or basic nursing care.

Your healthcare proxy acts only when you cannot

The person you name as your healthcare proxy has authority only after you lose the capacity to make decisions yourself. While you are conscious and able to communicate, your own spoken wishes take precedence. The proxy cannot override a decision you make in the moment.

Palliative care is always available

Advance directives often mention comfort measures and pain management. These are not conditional on any other clause in your document. Palliative care teams in Portugal will provide symptom relief regardless of your other treatment choices, and your directive can specify preferences about where you would like to receive that care.

If a situation arises that your document does not address, healthcare providers will consult your proxy and your family, guided by what they know of your values. The goal of this service is to reduce uncertainty, not to create a rigid contract.