What is an Advanced Directive?

Advanced Directives are legal documents that give you the power to make decisions about your affairs if you become unable to do so yourself. Financial and healthcare decisions are some of the most commonly used cases when it comes to advanced directives.

Why do i need one?

You may think that you do not need an advanced directive because your family knows what you would want or because you are healthy now, but if something happens and you are suddenly unable to communicate your wishes, an advanced directive can be a crucial.

An advanced directive gives you a way to control what happens to you if you become unable to communicate your wishes. It also takes the guesswork out of decision making for your family and friends.

Before you create an advance directive in regards to healthcare, you will want to talk with your health care provider, your family, and your friends about your wishes for medical care. Once you have made your decisions, you can put them in writing using an advance directive form. If you become unable to make your own decisions, the person you appoint to make decisions for you (your agent) will follow the instructions in your advance directive. You can name anyone you trust as your agent, including a spouse, adult child, close friend, or other relative. You can also name more than one person to serve as co-agents. It is important to choose someone who lives close enough to be easily available when needed and who is willing to take on this responsibility. Your agent will make all health care decisions for you that you have not specifically addressed in your advance directive. This may include decisions about life-sustaining treatment, such as artificial nutrition and hydration, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Your agent can also make decisions about your mental health treatment and long-term care. You do not have to name an agent if you do not want to. If you become unable to make your own decisions and do not have an agent, state law will determine who will make decisions for you.

Lynn Law Firm can help you create an advanced directive that meets your unique needs and situation. We will work with you to understand your wishes and make sure they are properly documented. Contact us today to get started.

The most common types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

Durable Power of Attorney

A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC) is a legal document in which you name someone you trust to make decisions about your health care if you cannot make those decisions yourself.

Living Will

A Living Will is a written statement of your wishes regarding medical treatment, including life-sustaining treatment, if you become terminally ill or injured and are unable to communicate your wishes. Some states also have other types of advance directives, such as psychiatric advance directives and natural death acts. A living will is also directive to provide or withhold medical treatment under specific circumstances. If you are unable to communicate your wishes, the living will ensures that your health care providers and loved ones know what kind of treatment you would or would not want. For example, you may not want to receive artificial nutrition and hydration (food and water through tubes) if you have a terminal illness and are in a vegetative state.

You can revoke advance directive choices at any time, as long as you have the mental capacity to do so. If you want to change a directive within an advance directive document, you can either write a new directive and/or cross out the old directive.

If you have any questions about advanced directives, please contact Lynn Law Firm. We would be happy to assist you in making these important decisions.