Advanced Healthcare Directive Planning

Alameda County Estate Planning Attorney

At Sargent Law Offices our estate planning lawyers serve Alameda County & Castro Valley and are well-versed in advance healthcare directive planning. Additionally, Hannah Sargent is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) certified lawyer, which means she is capable of navigating veterans and their spouses through various programs that are available to them.

Advance healthcare directive planning addresses two specific areas of concern:

• It allows you to expressly decide who you would like to execute your wishes
• It notifys your healthcare professionals, family, and close friends of your preferences

Your initial consultation is free. Just call (510) 344-2599 to begin.

What Is an Advance Directive?

An advanced healthcare directive, or durable power of attorney for healthcare, is the document which authorizes a person (your agent) to make medical and immediate post-death decisions for you when you are unable to make them for yourself.

Advanced healthcare directives generally include the following information:

1. The selection of an agent and an alternate agent.

2. Instructions on when, if ever, you would like medical assistance withdrawn.

3. Specific instructions for medical care that corresponds to your religious beliefs, i.e. no blood transfusions, which would otherwise be performed.

4. Whether or not you authorize your agent to allow an autopsy.

5. A directive on organ donation.

6. Whether you authorize your agent to direct funeral, cremation or to donate your body to medical science.

7. And, perhaps, most importantly, the nomination of your conservator should you lose capacity.

An advanced healthcare directive is an extremely important document to have. You want control over who makes your medical decisions. For some people this is their spouse. For others, a trusted sibling or friend. But for each person, the person they ultimately trust to take care of them is different. For each person, their wishes for what kind of care they would like to have pre- and post-death is different. If Terri Schaivo taught us anything, is that you do not want family members fighting over control over what happens to you if you are in a persistent vegetative state. Select your agent and then make your wishes clear.

Being proactive and creating a well-thought-out advanced healthcare directive can make it easier on you and your family in the future. Healthcare decisions and end-of-life decisions are delicate issues that can create intense family disputes. Ensure that you have a solid plan in place - many of your loved ones will appreciate it.

Begin elder law planning and medical planning today. It's never too late! Consult with an estate planning attorney to get your advanced healthcare directive drafted properly.

Certified Veterans Affairs Lawyer

Hannah Sargent of Sargent Law Offices is a Veterans Affairs (VA) Certified lawyer who is qualified to help guide clients through their elder law planning and Medi-Cal planning. As we age, it is necessary to think about the future and plans for long-term care. Will you need nursing home care? What about healthcare costs? Our Alameda County elder law attorney can discuss your long-term care needs and strategies to protect your future.

Issues that elder law planning can address:

• Medicaid/Medicare/Medi-Cal
• End-of-life decisions
• Financial planning
• Guardianship
• Long-term healthcare plans
• Powers of attorney
• Nursing home care
• Irrevocable Trusts

We know elder law issues and healthcare plans are sensitive matters. When you come to us, you can expect the highest level of professionalism and discretion.

Call us today at (510) 344-2599 for a free consultation!