Boca Raton Health Care Documents Attorney
Many different types of healthcare documents will make up a good portion of your estate plan. Whether you are concerned about your healthcare needs while you are living or have specific wishes for your funeral and burial after you pass away, you should include some specific documents to state your wishes. Below, our Boca Raton estate planning lawyers explain some of the different documents you might want to consider.
Your Last Will and Testament
When many people think of their last will and testament, they often think it is a document used to distribute assets to beneficiaries and name guardians for their children. As the foundation of many estate plans, your Will is a very important document. However, you can also include your wishes for your healthcare at the end of life and the disposition of your remains after you are gone.
For example, you may wish to include in your Will that you want to donate your organs. If you do this, it is essential that you make your family aware of your wishes and tell them where your Will is kept as it may be too late for your last wishes to be fulfilled by the time the Will is read.
Guardian Designation
It is also important to name someone as your guardian in your estate plan. Your guardian will make sure you receive the medical care you need. Your guardian will also make healthcare decisions on your behalf in the event that you become incapacitated and cannot make these decisions for yourself. If you do not designate a guardian on your own, the matter will go to court and a judge will name a guardian for you. The person the court chooses might not be the same person you would have chosen, so it is critical that you take this step before you actually need it.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An advance health Care directive can also appoint another person to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable to make these decisions for yourself. When appointing an agent, or the person who you want to make these decisions, it is important to name someone you trust. You can also include written instructions for future health care such as what, if any, life-sustaining treatment you wish to receive if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious.
A Letter of Instruction
Also known as a letter of intent, a letter of instruction is a document that outlines your final wishes about your health care, funeral arrangements, and even how your property should be distributed. It is important to note that letters of instruction are not legal documents and so, they are not legally binding. Still, they are an effective way to communicate to your executor and family members.
Our Estate Planning Lawyer in Boca Raton Can Prepare Your Documents
Regardless of what healthcare documents you want to include in your estate plan, they must be drafted properly in order for them to be upheld in court. At SAMUELS WOOD PLLC, our Boca Raton estate planning lawyers can create the documents you need to ensure that your final wishes are upheld. Call us now at 561-864-3371 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and learn more about your legal options.
