ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
Advance Health Care Directives (also known as durable powers of attorney for health care) are written documents that specify the type of medical care a person would want should he or she lose the ability to make (and communicate) his or her own decisions. These are the California equivalent of a “living will.”
The Advance Health Care Directive also allows you
to appoint a trusted person as your health care agent who will have the legal authority to seek medical care for you, and to make all medical decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated.
Anyone over the age of 18 may execute a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Generally, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or Advance Health Care Directive does two things:
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Designates who can make health care decisions on behalf of an incapacitated person; and
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Gives directions as to the use of life-sustaining measures on behalf of the incapacitated person.
These instruments together not only provide clear instructions regarding the transfer of your assets, they also will keep most or all of your assets out of probate after death. This can save your family a great deal of time and expense. This estate plan can also avoid the need for formal guardianship or conservatorship proceedings to protect you or your estate if you become unable to manage your own affairs.
Pratt Law can help you with whatever you need in an estate plan. We will listen to your concerns and then will design an estate plan to meet your needs, wishes, and values.