Advance care planning (ACP) is defined as "a deliberate and structured process by which a person expresses their values, wishes and preferences and, in accordance with these and in collaboration with their affective environment and their reference care team, formulates and plans how they would like the care they should receive to be in the face of a situation of clinical complexity or serious illness that is expected to occur within a certain and relatively short period of time, or in an end-of-life situation, especially in those circumstances in which they are not in a position to decide."

This process, unlike an advance directive (or living will), is not legally binding , but reflects an agreement between the affected person, a professional with the power to ensure that the advance directive will be fulfilled during a relapse, and the person's support environment (family, friends, and other professionals chosen by the person).