ACP vs AMD vs LPA comes down to three different jobs. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) appoints people to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) tells doctors you do not want extraordinary life-sustaining treatment if you are terminally ill and unconscious. Advance Care Planning (ACP) records your wider care wishes and who should speak for you, but it is not legally binding.
None of them is a will, and none deals with your money after death. This guide explains what each covers and how they fit together. It is general information, not medical or legal advice.
ACP vs AMD vs LPA at a Glance
| LPA | AMD | ACP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Appoints donees to decide on your personal welfare and/or property and affairs | Tells doctors not to use extraordinary life-sustaining treatment | Records your care preferences and up to 2 Nominated Healthcare Spokespersons |
| When it applies | When you lose mental capacity | Terminally ill and unconscious, where treatment would only prolong dying | Whenever you cannot speak for yourself, as a guide |
| Legally binding? | Yes | Yes, once registered | No |
| Minimum age | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Witnesses | A Certificate Issuer certifies it | Two: your doctor and one other person aged 21+ | Done with a facilitator, or online via myACP |
| Where it is held | Office of the Public Guardian | Registrar of Advance Medical Directives, MOH | National ACP system, linked to your health record |
| Cost | Form 1 free for citizens; Certificate Issuer fee applies | No registration fee listed by MOH | Some providers charge a nominal fee |
Sources: MOH, AIC, OPG, as at November 2026.
The short version: The LPA chooses who decides for you. The AMD sets one specific limit on treatment at the very end. The ACP tells everyone what matters to you. They complement each other; doing one does not cover the others.
The LPA: Who Decides for You
An LPA lets you choose people you trust, called donees, to act for you if you lose mental capacity. It can cover your personal welfare, your property and affairs, or both. A donee can only act once a doctor certifies that you have lost capacity, and must step back if you regain it.
The Office of the Public Guardian says Singapore citizens can make an LPA using Form 1 free of charge, though everyone pays the Certificate Issuer’s professional fee. Our step-by-step guide covers how to make an LPA, and our guide for LPA donees explains their duties.
One limit matters here: a donee cannot decide on life-sustaining treatment. That gap is what the AMD addresses.
The AMD: A Limit on Treatment at the End
The Ministry of Health describes the AMD as a legal document you sign in advance to tell your doctors that, if you become terminally ill and unconscious, you do not want extraordinary life-sustaining treatment used to prolong your life.
Key rules from MOH:
- You must be 21 or above and not mentally disordered.
- Two witnesses sign at the same sitting. One must be a doctor; the other must be 21 or above.
- Neither witness can be a beneficiary of your will or insurance, an immediate family member, someone entitled to your CPF savings on your death, or someone with an interest in your estate.
- The AMD is valid only once registered with the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives. You post or deliver the form in a sealed envelope.
- You can revoke it at any time, in the presence of at least one witness.
- Making one is voluntary. Forcing someone to make an AMD is a criminal offence.
The AMD is narrow. It does not cover everyday treatment, pain relief or where you would like to be cared for. That is where ACP comes in.
ACP: Your Wider Care Wishes
The Agency for Integrated Care says ACP guides your loved ones and healthcare team on your preferences, such as the extent of treatment and pain control. You can appoint up to two Nominated Healthcare Spokespersons.
- It is for people aged 21 and above who can make their own decisions.
- It is not legally binding, but healthcare providers weigh your stated preferences.
- You can do it with a trained facilitator, or online through myACP on MyLegacy@LifeSG if you are generally well and have Singpass.
- Once completed, it is registered in the national ACP system and linked to your electronic health record, so hospitals can see it.
AIC advises doing an ACP even if you already have an AMD or LPA.
An Illustrative Example
Illustration only. Madam Siti is not a real person.
Madam Siti, 72, makes an LPA naming her son and daughter as donees for welfare and property. She registers an AMD with MOH. She also completes an ACP, naming her daughter as healthcare spokesperson and noting that she would prefer to be cared for at home if possible. Years later, after a stroke, her children use the LPA to manage her CPF payouts and bank account, her ACP guides daily care decisions, and her AMD applies only if she becomes terminally ill and unconscious.
How They Fit With Your Will and CPF
All three apply while you are alive. After death, your will and CPF nomination take over. If you have no LPA and lose capacity, your family may have to apply to court through deputyship, which takes longer and costs more.
For Muslims, MUIS has published religious guidance on ACP and the AMD; ask your mosque or MUIS if you would like to read it before deciding.
What To Do Next
- Start with the LPA if you have none; it covers the widest range of decisions.
- Talk to your family about your care wishes, then record them through ACP.
- If you feel strongly about life-sustaining treatment at the very end, ask your doctor about an AMD.
- Tell your donees and spokespersons where your documents are kept.
- Track all of it with our legacy readiness checklist.
