Advanced Healthcare Directives

An Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is an essential element of an estate plan, serving as your voice for medical decisions in the event you’re unable to express your wishes.

Through an AHCD, you can appoint a trusted individual – typically referred to as your health care power of attorney – to oversee health care decisions on your behalf. Given the crucial nature of health care directives, partnering with a reputable Los Angeles estate planning attorney is imperative to ensure your directives are accurately documented and legally sound.

At Stonewood Law Group P.C., we have a history of safeguarding our clients’ financial and personal interests, providing the necessary legal guidance to craft clear and comprehensive AHCDs. Our client feedback solidifies the belief that you’ll be in no better hands when it comes to planning for such sensitive times in life.

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The Importance of an Advance Health Care Directive

By nominating an individual such as a spouse, relative, or close friend as your agent within your AHCD, you entrust them with the authority to navigate health care options on your behalf during moments of incapacitation.

This agent carries the weighty duty to honor your health care preferences as detailed in your directive. Hence, selecting someone for this role requires thoughtful deliberation and a comprehensive understanding of your values and desires.

It’s important to recognize that certain health care decisions are beyond the scope of an agent’s authority in an AHCD, which typically includes:

Prohibiting abortion
Withholding authorization for sterilization
Preventing psychosurgery
Restricting commitment to a mental institution

An HCD Gives the Autonomy You Deserve

Your autonomy over your Health Care Directive remains intact, as you hold the power to revoke or amend it at your discretion. Additionally, unless otherwise stipulated in the document with an explicit termination date, your AHCD remains in effect indefinitely.

In the absence of an AHCD, your medical care may fall into the hands of court-appointed representatives, which not only introduces uncertainty but may also lead to decisions that don’t align with your wishes. Implementing an AHCD places the power back into familiar hands – those of your chosen loved ones. This can offer immense relief and confidence, enabling them to execute your medical wishes with authority and empathy.

At Stonewood Law Group P.C., we pride ourselves in the nuances of estate planning and are dedicated to empowering you with an AHCD that clearly articulates your health care preferences. Engage our wealth of knowledge to take control of your medical future and grant your loved ones the guidance and assurance they need to uphold your choices.