Estate Planning
Living Wills a.k.a. Directive to Physicians
Advance Directive & Directive to Physicians Attorney
No one likes to think about disability or even death. But one of the most crucial steps you can make to protect yourself and your loved ones is to refer to an estate planning attorney and establish your estate plan. One very important part of a comprehensive estate plan is a Living Will. If you want to see our blog post with a video, click here for more details.
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Advance Directives (also called Living Wills)
Health Care Directives And Advance Directives In Northwest Houston
Advance directives are legal documents (such as a living will or a power of attorney) in which a person expresses his/her desires for medical treatment in case of disability. It is an ideal tool for those who are planning for the future, allowing the individual to outline the exact instructions for care and end-of-life decision making. An advance directive (or living will) provides legal documents to ensure your wishes in a wide range of medical situations.
An advance directive provides doctors an evident understanding of your wishes. However, it only becomes active once you are disabled, and the situation has become terminal. Meaning, your condition is expected to overcome you without life-sustaining measures and machines.
Most of us do not wish to think about such circumstances, but it is essential to ensure that the law honors your wishes through a living will. The advance directive overrides anything your medical power of attorney may decide. Our living will attorney can explain all the ins and outs of the the Living Will legal process.
Terminal vs. Irreversible Condition
A Living Will only applies if you have been diagnosed with a terminal or irreversible condition. A terminal condition is defined as a condition that will probably end your life within 6 months, in all reasonable medical probability. An irreversible condition is something that will probably kill the person at some point, just not necessarily within 6 months. Your directive to physicians lawyer can assist explaining the terms and how they relate to real life.
Medical Decision & Family Members
Your Advanced Directive lawyer near you can help you put in place your medical decision that will take the burden of the decision away from your family members. State laws allow for the decisions ahead of time for hospice and palliative care. Medical care and resuscitate orders can can be made ahead of time with advance directive forms.
The living will lawyer and advance directive attorney make the document that will work in conjunction with the medical care power of attorney for treatment preferences regarding life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The attorney for health care and sets out advance care planning and health care power for life care to create a living agreement.
Living Will and your Medical Power of Attorney
A living will is different from your medical power of attorney. A living will is you telling your physician yourself what kind of treatment you want or do not want if you are unable to communicate with your doctor and have been diagnosed with an irreversible or terminal condition. Your medical power of attorney designates a third-party who can make all other medical decisions for you in the event you cannot make them yourself.
A Living Will is not a Last Will & Testament
Living Wills are commonly confused with a Will. A Last Will & Testament directs where your property goes after you die, and a Living Will directs what kind of health care you want before you die.
Everyone Should Have an Advance Directive to Physicians
Having a Living Will protects the patient from being kept unnecessarily long on life support so that inordinate medical bills are not incurred by the patient prior to death. Sometimes, it is best to just let nature run its course. Everyone knows hospital machines can keep someone who is brain-dead alive for many months despite no brain activity.
One and Done
Once your medical directive is prepared, you no longer ever need to make another one. This decision normally does not change for people over time. Consider the pros and cons of creating your advance directive form today.
As difficult as it may sound, death is inevitable. But why not deal with this reality with a smart strategy and have a medical directive?
Contact the Law Office of Troy M. Moore, PLLC, and learn more about how our estate planning lawyer can help you create a comprehensive plan for the future. Schedule a consultation to our Houston, Texas law firm today at 281-970-8039 or visit our firm’s website. Or you can visit our office at 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, office location is at the Northwest Houston/Tomball/Cypress, Texas area.
Terminal vs. Irreversible Condition
A Living Will only applies if you have been diagnosed with a terminal or irreversible condition. A terminal condition is defined as a condition that will probably end your life within 6 months, in all reasonable medical probability. An irreversible condition is something that will probably kill the person at some point, just not necessarily within 6 months. Your directive to physicians lawyer can assist explaining the terms and how they relate to real life.
Medical Decision & Family Members
Your Advanced Directive lawyer near you can help you put in place your medical decision that will take the burden of the decision away from your family members. State laws allow for the decisions ahead of time for hospice and palliative care. Medical care and resuscitate orders can can be made ahead of time with advance directive forms.
The living will lawyer and advance directive attorney make the document that will work in conjunction with the medical care power of attorney for treatment preferences regarding life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The attorney for health care and sets out advance care planning and health care power for life care to create a living agreement.
Living Will and your Medical Power of Attorney
A living will is different from your medical power of attorney. A living will is you telling your physician yourself what kind of treatment you want or do not want if you are unable to communicate with your doctor and have been diagnosed with an irreversible or terminal condition. Your medical power of attorney designates a third-party who can make all other medical decisions for you in the event you cannot make them yourself.
A Living Will is not a Last Will & Testament
Living Wills are commonly confused with a Will. A Last Will & Testament directs where your property goes after you die, and a Living Will directs what kind of health care you want before you die.
Everyone Should Have an Advance Directive to Physicians
Having a Living Will protects the patient from being kept unnecessarily long on life support so that inordinate medical bills are not incurred by the patient prior to death. Sometimes, it is best to just let nature run its course. Everyone knows hospital machines can keep someone who is brain-dead alive for many months despite no brain activity.
One and Done
Once your medical directive is prepared, you no longer ever need to make another one. This decision normally does not change for people over time. Consider the pros and cons of creating your advance directive form today.
As difficult as it may sound, death is inevitable. But why not deal with this reality with a smart strategy and have a medical directive?
Contact the Law Office of Troy M. Moore, PLLC, and learn more about how our estate planning lawyer can help you create a comprehensive plan for the future. Schedule a consultation to our Houston, Texas law firm today at 281-970-8039 or visit our firm’s website. Or you can visit our office at 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, office location is at the Northwest Houston/Tomball/Cypress, Texas area.
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