The Law Offices of Bruce Peotter
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
It's Never Too Early to Plan Your Estate
Understanding and Preparing Advance Directives With Ease
At The Law Offices of Bruce Peotter, we understand the delicate nature of planning for the unforeseen events life may bring. The concept of an advance directive is not just a legal formality; it's a deeply personal decision that ensures your wishes are respected and followed in times when you might not be able to express them yourself. Having an advance directives attorney by your side can make this significant process both reassuring and straightforward.
Why You Need an Advance Directive
It’s impossible to know what exactly the future holds. Many people live long and healthy lives, but sometimes, an accident happens, or an illness takes a turn for the worse, sentencing an individual to a state where making their own decisions becomes impossible. In this critical scenario, a legally binding advance health care directive becomes your voice. It describes your preferences for medical treatment, ensuring that your healthcare providers and loved ones know your decisions.
Personalized Support in Drafting Your Advance Directive
Deciding to establish an advance health care directive form is only the first step. The complexities of accurately capturing your wishes demand guidance from a knowledgeable advance health care directive attorney. Our team at The Law Offices of Bruce Peotter offers personalized support throughout the entire process. From selecting a healthcare proxy to addressing the nuanced questions about your medical care preferences, we are dedicated to assisting clients in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, as well as Tustin, California, including areas like Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Santa Ana.
Ready to Move Forward?
What Is an Advance Directive (Living Will)?
An advance directive is a legally-binding document prepared in advance of, or before, you become unable to speak for yourself and make your own healthcare choices. Sometimes referred to as a living will, an advance healthcare directive allows you to give instructions about your healthcare and to name someone to make healthcare decisions for you.
Examples of advanced healthcare directives include living wills, a healthcare power of attorney, “do not resuscitate” orders, and physician orders for life-sustaining treatment.
Decisions Covered by an Advance Directive
An advance healthcare directive covers many different types of decisions, including:
- Decisions about consenting to care or refusing care, treatment, services, or procedures to maintain, diagnose, or otherwise affect a physical or mental condition
- Decisions about choosing or refusing certain healthcare providers and institutions
- Decisions approving or disapproving diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, and medication programs
- Decisions about donating organs and authorizing an autopsy
These are several, but not all, of the decisions an advance healthcare directive covers.
Healthcare Representative
When you establish an advance healthcare directive, you will need to choose an agent who will make decisions on your behalf.
Who Can I Appoint?
You can appoint anyone who is at least 18 years old and who knows you well enough to be your healthcare representative. You cannot choose someone who is your doctor or who is a healthcare professional unless they are your family member.
What Are Their Responsibilities?
The healthcare representative can make all medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. They can authorize major medical decisions, such as which doctor or clinic you will attend, or where you will live. They also have power over decisions regarding your medications, tests, treatments, and who can be your doctors, nurses, and even social workers.Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Directive
A do not resuscitate (DNR) directive applies to situations where emergency medical services personnel are called to the scene.
For example, a DNR instructs this personnel on what to do if you should have a cardiopulmonary arrest—if you should receive CPR, assisted ventilation, intubation, and other medical treatments.
An experienced estate planning attorney can help you answer the questions you may have regarding what type of treatment you would want in this type of emergency situation.
POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
A Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment establishes what type of care a seriously ill individual would like to receive at the end of their life. The form asks whether you would like to receive full treatment, selective treatment, or comfort-focused treatment if you are found in a specific situation. An estate planning attorney can help you establish a POLST that preserves your dignity and honors your wishes.
Making Modifications
To change an advance healthcare directive, you must first have the capacity to be making healthcare decisions. You also must be acting freely without pressure from anyone. To be certain that the changes you have made to your advance healthcare directive are legally binding, consult with a skilled estate planning lawyer.
Our Approach to Advance Directives
We believe in a personalized approach to every advance directive. Understanding that each client's wishes and circumstances are uniquely their own, we take the time to get to know you and your desires for your healthcare thoroughly. This attention to detail ensures that your advance directive reflects your exact wishes, providing peace of mind to you and your loved ones. The Law Offices of Bruce Peotter is committed to serving communities in and around Denver, CO, and throughout Orange County, CA, with dedication and compassion.
Setting Up Your Free Consultation
Whether you're located in Highlands Ranch, CO, Tustin, CA, or any of the surrounding communities, establishing your advance directive is a crucial step towards a prepared future. Our advance directives attorney in Highlands Ranch, CO, and Tustin, CA, is here to guide you through every step. If you're ready to ensure your wishes are clearly documented and legally binding, contact The Law Offices of Bruce Peotter today.
To set up your free consultation and take the first step towards peace of mind about your future healthcare decisions, call our California office at
(714) 597-6515 or our Colorado office at
(833) 487-8787, or fill out our
online form. Let us help you ensure your wishes are respected and carried out exactly as you envision.
