Ontario Advance Healthcare Directive Attorneys

Ensuring Our Client’s Medical Wishes are Honored

You may see estate planning as something that only goes into effect after you pass away. While a large portion of estate planning does help your family understand your final wishes, some aspects are used to direct them when you are still alive but incapacitated.

An Advance Healthcare Directive (AHCD) allows you to express your wishes regarding medical treatments should you become unable to make those decisions yourself due to incapacitation. It is like a playbook that instructs your family and healthcare providers on your medical decisions.

Working with our estate planning team, you can ensure your plan includes this valuable document, which can save your family heartache and stress should something happen to you. B.C. Miles Law Group can help you with this and your other estate planning needs.

Call 909-451-7005 for a free consultation today.

What is an Advance Healthcare Directive?

This legal document consists of a living will and a healthcare power of attorney. It offers a comprehensive outline of healthcare and end-of-life treatment preferences should you become incapacitated. With a medical power of attorney, any medical decisions you didn’t cover in your living will can be decided by a trusted person, known as your agent or healthcare proxy.

Living Will

The primary purpose of this document is to ensure your healthcare providers and loved ones are aware of your preferences for medical treatments. It allows you to opt for or avoid certain life-prolonging treatments, such as preferences regarding artificial nutrition, ventilators, dialysis, and more. It also allows you to elect whether or not you would like to donate your organs.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

A healthcare power of attorney allows you to appoint someone as your healthcare proxy, giving them the authority to make decisions on your behalf. When your family needs to make medical decisions that aren’t covered by your directive, your proxy will be able to step in and make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so yourself. This ensures your healthcare decisions and end-of-life decisions are respected.

With this well-rounded approach, you and your family members can be confident that your healthcare decisions are well-defined. This helps prevent the frustration and confusion your loved ones could face if you become incapacitated without outlining your medical wishes.

Who Should You Pick as Your Agent?

Your agent, also known as your durable power of attorney for healthcare, should be someone you trust to make important decisions on your behalf. You can choose a trusted family member, close friend, or even an attorney to make healthcare decisions for you that aren’t covered by your advance directive.

You may choose to appoint your spouse or an adult child as your medical power of attorney. Whoever you choose should be aware of their responsibilities should you become unable to communicate your healthcare wishes.

How Does an AHCD Fit Into Estate Planning?

Medical treatments become incredibly expensive if you become incapacitated without an AHCD. Bills will start to pile up while your family and healthcare providers try to determine what your wishes are. The court may even have to get involved if your family is struggling to agree on treatments. These legal costs and medical bills can drain your estate and leave very little for your family.

Forward planning can help your family members make decisions more quickly, saving time and money. Pairing your advance directive with a living trust can ensure your family has access to assets they can use to care for you and pay bills. An attorney experienced with all aspects of family law can help you protect your medical interests and care for your family, even when you are unable to communicate your wishes.

Do You Need an Ontario AHCD Attorney?

By working with an experienced attorney when creating your advance health care directive, you can relax knowing you have covered all of your medical bases and chosen a trustworthy agent who is up to the task of making important medical and end-of-life decisions for you.

The B.C. Miles Law Group’s estate planning team has the necessary knowledge and experience to help you create a solid advance health care directive, as well as other estate planning services that protect your assets and ease the burden placed on your family.

Call 909-451-7005 to schedule a free consultation!