Health Care Documents – Are You Prepared?

Now more than ever it’s important to have Health Care documents and/or a designated Health Care Surrogate to ensure your wishes are carried out should you become incapacitated. If you don’t have Health Care documents, a qualified Florida estate planning attorney, or elder law attorney can prepare them for you.  The Pittman Law Office is exceptionally qualified to help individuals understand their options and draft the proper documentation to ensure their health care wishes are met.

Regardless of your age, a health emergency can strike anyone at any time. Our Florida estate planning attorney/elder law attorney recommends everyone review and consider the following:

1. Locate your Health Care documents.

• Designation of Health Care Surrogate
• Living Will
• HIPAA Authorization.

2. If you don’t have Health Care documents, now is the time to have them drafted by a qualified Florida estate planning attorney or elder law attorney.
3. If your Health Care documents are from another state or outdated, our estate planning attorney can conduct a complimentary consultation with you to update your documents.
4. Situations and wishes change. Be sure to review your Health Care documents on a regular basis to make sure that they still meet your wishes and you have the correct individual designated to make health care decisions for you.
5. Make sure you have a successor agent named. A successor agent will make decisions should the first person you name be unable do so as a result of illness, incapacity, unwillingness or death.
6. Be sure to discuss your health care wishes with your family and named agents so there is no confusion or misunderstanding of your wishes. Online resources such as www.mydirectives.com can help you communicate your wishes to your family.
7. Tell your agent where you keep your Health Care documents and/or give them copies of your Health Care documents.
8. Make sure your agent knows how to reach your attorney should they need copies of your Health Care documents.

The Pittman Law Office is your trusted source when in need of a Florida estate planning attorney, Florida probate lawyer or elder law attorney.  Many clients seek our Florida estate planning attorney services and during this process, we often are asked to also handle their Living Will, Designation of Health Care Surrogate and/or HIPPA Authorization. Having your estate planning and health care documents handled by the same firm makes it convenient on both you and your loved ones. Give us a call to learn more today!