What types of advance directives are in your estate plan?

While you cannot accurately predict what will happen in the future, there are things you can do that will allow you to face the future with confidence. By creating a complete estate plan, you can be certain that your interests are secure and that you have the final say over important matters. As part of a complete strategy, you will benefit from also including advance directives as part of your plan, which allows you to decide what types of medical care you may want.

Advance directives provide you with the opportunity to have control over your medical care in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. While each person may have different preferences, each Florida adult could benefit from the protections provided by these documents. If you do not have them yet, there is no time to lose in creating them.

What do they accomplish?

Advance directives are legal documents that include your instructions in the event of your incapacitation due to some type of medical issue. The instructions and terms included in them would come into effect in the event that an injury or illness prevents you from communicating. There are two main types of medical directives, and they include:

• Health care power of attorney — This is a document that names a specific person who can make important medical decisions on your behalf. This individual would only have decision-making authority in situations specifically addressed in your living will.
• Living will — This is a document that outlines specific medical situations, allowing you to decide what types of interventions you would or would not want. This may include blood transfusions, the use of a ventilator and more.

By having these documents, you can protect your family from having to make difficult decisions on your behalf. This also gives you the right to have the final say over what happens to your body.

Assistance with estate planning

It is not always easy to know exactly what should be in a person’s estate plan. If you are unsure of what steps to take or how you can face the future with confidence, you may benefit from seeking expert guidance regarding your legal options and what you need in your estate plan. An assessment of your objectives, your goals for the future and other details can provide you with insight regarding how to move forward.