Wills Lawyer in Ridgefield, CT

Dealing with medical issues is never pleasant. Whether you have to go in and have routine surgery or are facing a more serious problem, having to prepare for the situation can be stressful. One of the things you can do to be sure things are handled in a manner you wish is to create an advanced medical directive or living will. When created as part of your estate planning, this document will be held by an attorney or personal representative of your choosing. You may not want to think of the worst-case scenario; however, having a plan in place may ease the stress to your relatives during what may be a difficult time.

The Basics of a Living Will

You may not anticipate things going wrong with a procedure; however, any time you are incapacitated for a period of time, no matter how short, you want to ensure that your opinions and wishes are known. An advanced directive, such as a living will does just that. It acts as a guideline of sorts for medical staff and your family to follow during stressful times. This document becomes especially important when:

  • You are incapacitated by an injury
  • You undergo surgery and are under anesthesia
  • Your mental faculties are failing

Making your wishes known will ease in your care for all involved.

Appointing a Representative

Along with a living will, you will want to prepare a durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions. This document appoints a specific person to make final decisions during your incapacitation. While your living will sets out your wishes, it alone is not enough for personnel to act on. The person you choose as the power of attorney is the one who ultimately makes the final decisions. The goal is to have someone who you trust to follow the guidelines you’ve outlined in the living will, even if they are trying. For example, you may not want to be kept alive by machines for an extended period. Your appointed representative, therefore, must be able to decide when to take you off these machines should they be the only thing keeping you alive. Choosing someone who is capable of doing this is essential. It is recommended that you speak with the person beforehand to ensure they will stay true to your wishes, especially in emotionally charged decisions. The medical power of attorney remains in place as long as you are unable to make decisions. Once you recover your faculties, it will cease to be in effect.

You can speak to a wills lawyer in Ridgefield, CT to help you create a living will and all the other documents that are important to carry out your wishes.

 

Contact Sweeney Legal for their insight into estate planning and living wills.