Lifetime Planning

Studies show that among American adults, significantly fewer Black people have completed advance directives and lifetime planning documents than white people.

One study from 2016 found that 44% of white adults had completed advance healthcare directives, compared to only 24% of Black adults. A 2019 study found that, while a majority of white Americans over 50 years old had valid wills, only 20% of Black Americans over 50 did.

The Legal Wellness Institute's work is helping to reduce these disparities among New Yorkers.

Photo courtesy of Wilhelm Scholz

Photo courtesy of Wilhelm Scholz

  • Power of Attorney

  • Health Care Proxy

  • Living Will

  • Last Will and Testament

  • Designation of Standby Guardian

  • Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains

Information and Resources

Advanced Directives

Click Here for our FAQ on SCPA 1726

SCPA 1726 is the NYS law that allows parents to designate a standby guardian to take over the care of their children in the event that the parents are detained, incarcerated, deported or otherwise separated from their children.


LWI is grateful for the generous support of the following funders: NYS AIDS Institute, Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert, Robin Hood, NYC Department of Health, NYS IOLA Fund, NYS Unified Court System, The New York Bar Foundation.