Estate Planning Attorneys, Tucson, Arizona

Health Care Directives

Advanced health care directives help ensure that your wishes are carried out in the event you cannot communicate.  There are several types of directives, described below.  It is important to talk about your advance directives with your family, your agent, and your medical providers, and to make sure that they understand your wishes.  It’s also important to give them copies of the documents.

Health Care Power of Attorney

A durable health care power of attorney allows you to name one or more people who will make health care decisions on your behalf if you’re incapable of making decisions yourself.  Your representative, called an agent, steps into your shoes and has the same power to make medical treatment choices you would have.  If you wish, you can name co-agents, and you also can name successor agents if your first choice is unavailable or declines to accept appointment as an agent.  Further, you can indicate your preferences for organ donation and your agent’s power to approve of an autopsy.

Living Will

A living will is a document in which you make known your choices about medical treatment in the event of a terminal condition, a persistent vegetative state or an irreversible coma, and you are unable to speak for yourself.

Mental Health Care Power of Attorney

In a mental health care power of attorney, you designate a person or persons as your agent to appear with you in the unlikely event you become subject to a commitment proceeding.

A health care power of attorney, living will and mental health care power of attorney are often executed in conjunction with an overall estate plan that also includes a living trust and a Will.

"Your representative, called an agent, steps into your shoes and has the same power to make medical treatment choices you would have."