Estate planning usually begins with discussing your plans with your family and loved ones. Maybe someone you know has become gravely ill or recently passed away bringing these issues to the forefront. The discussions might range from your medical wishes if you aren’t able to clearly state them yourself to how your assets will be distributed when you pass away.
A Medical Power of Attorney is an important part of every estate plan. A Medical Power of Attorney does not take away your authority to make healthcare decisions for yourself; it only extends the authority to another individual. Life is uncertain and sometimes medical issues pop up when you least expect them, regardless of age. This is where a Medical Power of Attorney could help.
The burden of making medical decisions for someone else can be terribly stressful. It’s important to have a conversation with the person you plan on choosing about what your health care wishes are and would be under various circumstances.
A Medical Power of Attorney is different from a Health Care Directive (also called an Advanced Directive, Physicians Directive or Living Will), which addresses the use of certain types of life-sustaining medical treatment if you’re in a coma or otherwise being kept alive by artificial means. Both are important parts of a comprehensive estate plan since they each address different issues.
If you’re looking to prepare your first set of estate planning documents or if you’ve experienced a major life event, making  your old estate plan outdated, then contact the attorneys at Cooney Law Offices today. We can discuss your options and prepare an estate plan that fits your life and your wishes today. Cooney Law Offices. We can help.