A Living Will, also known as an advanced directive, is a legal document, which allows you to express your wishes regarding medical treatment in the event you become physically or mentally incapacitated. This is typically used when a patient is in a vegetative state and needs life support to be kept alive. This form allows you to communicate your desire to have your life artificially prolonged or not. If you do not have a properly executed Florida living will, you will be kept alive artificially irrespective of your wishes to die naturally or the financial and emotional costs to your family.
There have been too many heartbreaking stories absent a living will in place, where family members have become embroiled in quarrels as to what a loved one would have wanted. We all remember Terri Schiavo from St. Petersburg, Florida who had been in a coma for years and did not have a living will. There was bitter contention between her husband and her parents as to whether Terri would have wanted to be hooked up to life prolonging medical procedures. After seven long years and countless court cases, the Florida Legislature, U.S. Congress and Supreme Court became involved, before it was finally ordered that her feeding tube be removed.
Don’t let this happen to you. Get your living will in place today. Designating a Health Care Surrogate will ensure you have someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf. It is also important to designate a Durable Power of Attorney to manage your financial affairs in the event you become mentally or physically unable to do so. Consult with a qualified South Florida Estate Planning Attorney who will properly advise you and prepare these critical legal documents so you can rest assure your wishes are fulfilled. After all, when it comes to your health and your life, there is no one better to take control than yourself.
For more information on successful Florida estate planning and probate, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Pardo, P.A. at 954-944-2855 or via email at info@wfplaw.com to schedule your free consultation.
It’s a Wild world. Are you protected?
