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Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura

Pre-planning

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) & Advance Care Plan (ACP).

Last updated 21 February 2025

What is pre-planning?

Planning for the future may be complicated. However, imagine a scenario if you are unable to communicate and your family had to make critical decisions for you. Without knowing your intentions and wishes, it would make an already stressful situation more challenging for your loved ones.

Two things that can help are preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Advance Care Plan (ACP). Think of an LPA as picking someone you trust to speak and act on your behalf if you lose mental capacity, and an ACP as writing down your healthcare choices in case of an emergency.

Prepare legal documents

To appoint one or more people you trust to help make decisions on your behalf in the event you lose mental capacity:

  • Make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

Consider healthcare preferences

You may have your own preferences when it comes to your future health and personal care.

  • Make an Advance Care Plan (ACP) to record your healthcare wishes

Having both an LPA and ACP will give you more control over what happens if you ever lose the mental capacity to make your own decisions.

Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you (the 'Donor') to appoint one or more trusted people (the 'Donee') to help you make decisions on your behalf in the event you lose mental capacity.

A lack of mental capacity could happen due to:

  • advanced dementia

  • a mental health illness

  • a coma

  • unconsciousness caused by an illness or medical treatment

Find out more on making a Lasting Power of Attorney on MyLegacy.

An LPA is a form of planning which is permissible under Islamic law.

Read more on the Fatwa on Lasting Power of Attorney.

Advance Care Plan

When you make an Advance Care Plan (ACP), you are planning for your future health and personal care.

This planning process involves:

  • understanding your own beliefs and care preferences

  • speaking to your family and loved ones about your beliefs and care preferences

  • appointing a ‘nominated healthcare spokesperson’

  • recording your wishes in an advance care plan with the help of an ACP facilitator

  • Making an ACP helps you to communicate to your loved ones and healthcare team about your values and how these values shape your healthcare preferences

Your ACP can help make decision-making less stressful for your family and ensure that your preferences are heard, even when you can no longer speak for yourself.

Find out more on Advance Care Plan (ACP) on MyLegacy.

Read more on the Irsyad (religious advisory) issued on Advance Care Plan.