Updating Your VADR Account
Advance Directives are legal documents and require signing and witnessing whenever you want to make changes to your preferences. If you want to change what it says in your advance directive, the first step is to complete a new document.
Your account with the Vermont Advance Directive Registry also contains contact information for yourself and your emergency contacts. This information can be updated at any time by logging in and editing your account, or by contacting customer service at the Vermont Ethics Network for phone/email support. Changes to contact information in your account will be visible to doctors and medical centers who look up your directive, but will not change your advance directive itself.
Submit a New Directive via Mail, Fax, Or Email
If you are not able to use the user upload process (details below), there are also options to mail, fax, or email your submission for registration.
If you are submitting your document via mail, fax, or email, you must also include a signed and completed VADR Registration Agreement/Authorization to Change form. This form can also be requested via phone by calling 1-802-828-2909.
MAIL:
Vermont Ethics Network
61 Elm Street, Suite 1
Montpelier, VT 05602
FAX: 1-802-828-2646
EMAIL:
File Format for Email Submission: All documents submitted sent via email for registration/update must be in PDF format. Documents in other file formats cannot be uploaded into the VADR. For more information on converting documents to PDF format, check the FAQ section below.
Submit a New Directive via User Upload
Current registrants can replace their directives online directly from your home computer. Uploading a new document will automatically remove any older documents in your account. Make sure your new document includes all of your current preferences and any addendum documents.
How to Upload Your New Advance Directive
Complete your new advance directive.
Your directive must be signed by you and two adult witnesses. Witnesses can not be your health care agents, spouse, parents, children, siblings, or grandchildren.
Log in to your account.
Select ‘Add Document’
Select ‘Choose File’ in the Advance Directive line, then select the PDF file of your completed document from your file folder.
Click ‘Upload & Update’ to upload your new directive. When the green progress bar gets to 100%, your upload is complete!
Your document will be reviewed for completion and you will receive an email when your document has been approved. You can log in to your account at any time to check the status.
Yes. Documents sent to the Westfield, New Jersey address or to the prior submission email or fax number are still being received and will be processed as usual. If you have sent your document to the New Jersey address, you may experience a slight delay in receiving your confirmation letter via mail.
If you have not received confirmation of your registration, please call 1-802-828-2909 or email to check on the status of your submission.
Yes, amendments are possible. Remember, if you want your amendment to carry legal weight, it must be signed and witnessed just like your advance directive. Below is our recommended language for amending your advance directive, and a template for writing an amending letter.
Crossing out your wishes in your completed advance directive to make changes is not recommended. If you do this, it is difficult for health care providers to understand what your most current preferences are. When it is unclear if the document is valid, it can make it harder for your health care agent to advocate for what you want.
Crossing out old contact information like phone numbers and addresses is completely okay. Updating contact information is not the same as changing your appointed health care agent or treatment preferences.
To make an amendment, write a letter describing the changes that you would like to make. In the letter, be sure to include the following:
- Your name, date of birth, and the date of the amendment on every page
- Reference to the advance directive that you are amending. One sentence that says “The following changes are being made to my advance directive completed on XX/XX/XXXX date” is enough.
- A detailed description of what you would like to change
- Your signature
- The signature of two adult witnesses. Witnesses cannot be your health care agent(s) or your immediate family (parents, children, siblings, spouse, or grandchildren)
- A copy of the original directive that you are amending
It is not recommended to do more than one amendment to your advance directive. If you have already amended once and need to make more changes, then it is a good time to do a new document.
Amending Letter Template
If you have a copy of your advance directive and would like to submit for registration with user upload or email submission, you will need to make sure your document is in PDF format. PDF (portable document format) is a universal file format that is compatible with all computer software and electronic medical records at hospitals.
You can always submit your document via mail or fax if you don’t have a PDF version.
Mail to:
Vermont Ethics Network
61 Elm Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
Fax: 1-802-828-2646
Converting your Advance Directive to a PDF
