Advance Directives

Advance Directives

Living responsibly means preparing for all aspects of life, including the tough decisions about our health care. While funeral pre-planning is a reflection of this mindset, one of the most important aspects of planning for the future is completing an advance directive.

What is an Advance Directive?

An advance directive (also called advance care directives) is a legal document that ensures your health care wishes will be respected if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. This written statement provides guidance for medical decisions in the event of incapacity.

Key Points About Advance Directives:

• Legal Validity: Advance directives are legal throughout the U.S. However, each state has different laws, so it's important to complete one that aligns with your state’s regulations.
• No Attorney Required: You do not need an attorney to create an advance directive.
• State-Specific: If you live in multiple states, it's important to have an advance directive in each state where you spend significant time.
• Ongoing Validity: Once signed, your advance directive remains in effect until you create a new one. Periodically review it to ensure it reflects your current wishes.
• Emergency Medical Care: While paramedics cannot honor an advance directive in an emergency, it becomes valid once you are under the care of hospital personnel.
  

How to Prepare an Advance Directive

Completing an advance directive requires deep reflection and open discussions with family members. According to the American Bar Association, "Good advance planning for health care decisions is, in reality, a continuing conversation about values, priorities, the meaning of one's life, and quality of life."

There are many online resources to guide you through the process of writing your advance directive, ensuring that your health care wishes are clear and legally documented.

Where to Obtain an Advance Directive Form

Advance directive forms are available from multiple sources:

• Hospitals: Federal law requires hospitals to provide information about advance directives and your state's related laws.
• Family Physicians: Your doctor may also have advance directive forms available for patients.

Once you’ve completed the form, you will need to have it witnessed and notarized. If you don’t have access to a notary, websites like Notary Rotary and American Society of Notaries can help you find one.

Consider uploading your completed advance directive to your state's registry, making it easily accessible to healthcare providers. The U.S. Living Will Registry is another excellent option for this service.

Take the First Step Today

Planning for your healthcare future is essential. Contact us to learn more about advance directives and how we can assist you with the process, or use our online tool to get started now.