Charles County Advance Healthcare Directive Attorney
Helping Clients Prepare for the Future through Estate Planning Documents
If you are thinking about preparing for the future, one question that might arise is how you can make your wishes for medical treatment known in case you are injured or suffer a terminal illness. Many people aren’t sure of their options or whether it’s ok to specify their medical treatment preferences. The good news is that an estate planning lawyer can help you understand your options, identify your goals, and lay out a plan for medical decisions if you become too ill or are incapacitated.
Our estate planning lawyer has over two decades of experience helping individuals through difficult situations, including those who want to include specific medical decisions in their estate planning documents. We can help you create an advance directive that matches your unique needs and goals. We’ll take the time to work one-on-one with you so every document aligns with how you want your medical care handled.
Call Griffin Selby Law PLLC at 301-685-7873 to schedule a free consultation with our knowledgeable, caring legal team.
What is a Healthcare Directive?
A healthcare directive, also known as an advance directive or “living will,” helps you describe what medical care you want if you cannot make these important decisions. An advance directive can help your healthcare providers and family members understand your wishes so you get the medical care you want without treatment that goes against your wishes or beliefs.
For example, some aspects of a healthcare directive may include:
- Selection of a person to act as your healthcare agent. This individual may make important decisions on your behalf if you cannot speak for yourself
- Indication of whether you want certain life-sustaining treatments
- Your wishes regarding other aspects of your health care to maintain your comfort
Please contact our law firm immediately if you need help understanding your options by creating an advance directive. We’ll explain how these and other estate planning documents work so you can participate fully in every decision.
How Can Having a Legal Document Like an Advance Directive Help My Family?
Having an advance directive can provide you and your loved ones with great peace of mind. You can rest assured that your wishes will be made known if you cannot speak up for yourself due to injury, illness, or age.
Not only can having a proper estate plan give you peace of mind, but it can also offer comfort and direction for your family members when they are going through an already difficult situation. An advance directive can minimize conflicts among family members since your desires are clearly stated. A healthcare directive can simplify healthcare decisions, allowing your loved ones to focus on comfort and safety.
You can take the simple step now of ensuring your future health care by calling our law office about advance care planning. We’ll help you select the right healthcare proxy and develop legally recognized documents in Maryland.
What Other Documents Should I Include in My Estate Plan?
A carefully crafted estate plan can help make end-of-life care simple and much less stressful. However, an estate plan goes beyond health care planning. Ideally, your estate plan will offer asset protection and clarify how the inheritance will be passed on to beneficiaries.
To achieve a powerful estate plan, you may consider including the following documents:
- Last will and testament – A will indicates what assets will be passed on to whom. It also names an executor who will take charge of administering your estate. Additionally, individuals with minor children can name a guardian who will raise their children if they pass away
- Trust – Trusts come in many forms and can serve several vital functions. These documents go hand-in-hand with wills, specifying when and how assets will be passed on to beneficiaries. A trust can also provide asset protection while you’re still alive, including tax benefits
- Durable power of attorney – The person with the power of attorney can make crucial decisions, including regarding your financial well-being or health care
Please don’t leave critical financial and healthcare decisions up to chance. Protect your assets and your family by crafting an estate plan with the help of our dedicated, knowledgeable estate planning attorney.
Should You Hire Our Charles County Advance Healthcare Directive Attorney?
Creating an advance directive and other estate planning documents can be extremely important for your well-being and your family’s peace of mind. You don’t have to make these critical decisions alone. You can get excellent legal counsel from an experienced estate planning lawyer at Griffin Selby Law PLLC.
At our law office, we take the time to get to know you so we can align your estate plan with your unique needs. We also offer flat rates so you can easily understand how much your estate plan will cost.
Considering the future is not always easy. Let us make the whole process less stressful. Contact Griffin Selby Law PLLC to learn more about how you can benefit from our 25 years of legal experience. You can reach us by calling 301-685-7873 today!