Advance Directives Attorney in Boca Raton, Florida

As a competent adult, you are within your rights to make decisions regarding the type of medical care and treatment you may receive. However, if you become seriously ill or incapacitated, making such medical decisions on your own may become impossible. Thankfully, creating a strategic end-of-life healthcare plan allows you to choose a trusted person to make critical healthcare decisions on your behalf. If you need proper guidance when drafting your advance directive or estate plan, consulting with a knowledgeable Florida estate planning attorney is crucial.

With 42+ years of extensive experience, Attorney Snyder has the knowledge, diligence, and expertise to advise and guide clients in the legal matters of estate planning. He is available to discuss your specific issues and enlighten you about your possible legal options. Attorney Snyder and his legal team will work with you to prepare the right end-of-life healthcare plan that best fits your particular situation and help you navigate important decisions.

What Is an Advance Directive?

An advance directive is a legal document that allows an individual (the principal) to specify their favored medical care, treatments, and procedures in advance should they become seriously ill, disabled, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to make such decisions on their own.

In Florida, an advance directive may cover any of the following decisions:

• Describe the types of life-saving medical care and treatments you want or do not want
• Indicate your preferences, goals, and values about healthcare treatments
• Choose the hospital, clinic, or medical facility where you want to be treated
• Select a trusted person to act as your healthcare representative
• Provide detailed instructions about medical treatments and healthcare procedures, such as hydration, dialysis, artificial nutrition, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Decide whether you would like to donate your eyes, tissues, organs, and brain
• State your preference regarding burial and funeral arrangements

A knowledgeable attorney can educate you about the topics covered by an advance directive and help you make intelligent decisions when choosing your healthcare representative.

Healthcare Representative

In the advance directive, the principal can select a healthcare representative, agent, or proxy. The proxy will make medical care decisions on the principal’s behalf. You can name a trusted person, such as a friend, family member, or close relative, as your healthcare agent. Ensure that you notify the person to get them informed and ready to take on such responsibility when called upon.

Here are some of the duties and responsibilities of a healthcare representative:

• Discuss your exact medical care preferences with you long before you become seriously ill or incapacitated
• Evaluate your potential healthcare treatment options and preferences
• Consult with the physicians and medical professionals
• Make healthcare decisions on your behalf based on your best interests and preferences
• Approve or decline medical examinations, tests, and treatments
• Request appointments and second opinions
• Review your medical charts and records
• Make life-support and life-saving decisions on your behalf
• Authorize your transfer to another medical facility, when required

An experienced estate planning attorney can enlighten you about the roles and responsibilities of your healthcare proxy and discuss other important documents that may be included in your end-of-life healthcare plan.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Directive

A DNR directive is an order created by a principal that instructs their physician not to administer any life-saving procedures such as CPR. Using the DNR directive, you can state when you do wish – or do not want – to be revived.

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

With a POLST form, you can provide your doctor with detailed instructions regarding your medical wishes or preferences, including:

• Medication
• Intubation
• Ratification nutrition
• Life-sustaining treatment procedures

Information provided using the DNR directive and POLST form makes it easier for physicians and caregivers to make decisions regarding your healthcare preference in critical situations. A knowledgeable attorney can help evaluate your choices and make sure your advanced directive is detailed, valid, and legal.

Making Modifications

A competent person may modify or revoke their advance directive to make certain that it conforms to their current wishes. You can amend the advance directive by completing written statements that express the changes you intend to implement. Most importantly, ensure that it is properly written and executed to ensure its validity. Also, inform your healthcare representatives of any new modifications.

Work With an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

Advance directives are not only for older people, and drawing up such documents can never be too early. Whether you are young or old, a sudden end-of-life situation can leave you severely ill, incapacitated, and incapable of communicating your exact medical care and treatment preferences. Creating an advance directive allows you to plan ahead, specify medical treatments, and avoid needless suffering. An experienced estate planning attorney can explore your possible options and determine the right end-of-life healthcare plan for you.

Attorney Snyder and his legal team are dedicated to providing outstanding legal services and guiding clients through drafting important estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, and advance directives. As your attorney, he can enlighten you about the advance directive process and help you prepare the required documentation. Using his extensive experience, he will help you draft a personalized plan for your end-of-life care and navigate tough decisions in your estate planning.