Many people do not realize what estate planning entails. Often, making a will does not suffice when it comes to creating a comprehensive estate plan. There are a lot of other documents you will want in order to make sure you and your loved ones are taken care of down the line. Some of these documents include trusts, a power of attorney, an advance healthcare directive, among others. Read on to learn more about advance healthcare directives and how creating one can benefit you.
What is an Advance Healthcare Directive?
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that declares your end-of-life wishes when it comes to your health.
In an advance healthcare directive, you can:
- Authorize loved ones to obtain medical records in emergency situations
- Indicate whether the document is effective immediately or upon a finding of incapacity
- Set the standard for determining your incapacity
- Communicate your wishes to receive or not receive life-saving care
- Ensure decisions are made in accordance with your beliefs, principles, or religious practices
- Any additional healthcare wishes or concerns
Why is it Important?
An advance healthcare directive is one of the most important documents you can make when it comes to estate planning. We all feel differently about our health. For example, some people have certain beliefs or religious restrictions. Some people wish to be organ donors while others do not. These are things you would indicate in your advance healthcare directive. In some cases, at the end of one’s life, he or she becomes incapacitated or is no longer of sound mind. In this case, one may no longer be able to express his or her wishes when it comes to healthcare. In this event, loved ones and doctors can turn to the advance healthcare directive to ensure one’s wishes are followed.
How Can I Make One?
If you are interested in creating an advance healthcare directive, you should contact a skilled estate planning attorney. An attorney can help you create a comprehensive and customized estate plan that will help ensure your wishes are followed and you and your loved ones are protected.
If you are interested in creating an advance healthcare directive, contact our firm today. We want to take care of all your estate planning needs. We understand the stress of estate planning. It can be difficult to think about the future, but we are here to walk you through each step of the way. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding the estate planning process.
Contact Our Experienced Firm Today
Zimmet Law Group, P.C. is an experienced team of attorneys guiding clients through matters of estate planning and administration, divorce and family law, real estate, commercial litigation, business law, bankruptcy, and landlord-tenant law. If you require the services of an effective New York City attorney, contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.
