Advanced directives are documents that enable you to choose a designated individual to make certain important decisions in the event you become incapacitated. Advanced directives include:
Health Care Proxy
A health care proxy designates an agent to make medical decisions in the event a person becomes incapacitated.
Living Will
A living will is often executed along with a health care proxy. This document informs others of a person’s wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment or the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment when the person is terminally ill, has no reasonable expectation of recovery, or has no chance of regaining a meaningful quality of life. It can address, among other things, intubation, the use of antibiotics, experimental treatments, blood transfusions and organ donation.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney designates an agent to make financial decisions in the event a person becomes incapacitated. An agent under a Power of Attorney may exercise any authority a person gives them, including, but not limited to, paying bills, buying and selling a property, paying taxes, obtaining medical records, making funeral arrangements, and making gifts.
It is important to speak with an experienced estate planning attorney in order to execute proper and comprehensive advanced directives. In addition, it is important to remember that advanced directives should be periodically reviewed to reflect any major life changes.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Hunziker, Jones, and Sweeney are experienced New Jersey estate planning lawyers. The firm’s attorneys help individuals and their families handle all aspects of estate planning, including the execution of advanced directives, updating directives to reflect major life changes, end-of-life planning, asset preservation, Medicaid planning, and trusts and estates issues. Our New Jersey estate planning lawyers are trusted by their clients to handle each legal matter with diligence and compassion. For more information, contact our New Jersey estate planning law firm at (973) 256-0456.
