Advance Directives Attorneys in Anderson, Indiana

Helping Clients Make Their Healthcare Wishes Known

At Beeman Heifner Benge P.A., we believe that having a comprehensive estate plan is essential for everyone, regardless of their age. For instance, nobody likes to think that there may come a time when they are not able to make or express their own decisions when it comes to their healthcare. What kinds of healthcare you do or do not want is one of the most personal decisions you can make. These decisions may be based on personal preference, religious belief, or any of a host of other factors that go into choosing what you want to happen to your own body. Unfortunately, sometimes we are ill or injured in such a way that we cannot make decisions and speak for ourselves. If we have not made our wishes clear and chosen someone to be sure they are carried out, anything can happen, whether we want it to or not.

Comprehensive Estate Planning

A well-structured estate plan ensures that your wishes are respected and provides clarity for your loved ones during difficult times. Common documents included in a comprehensive estate plan are:

Last Will and Testament
Revocable Living Trust
Financial Power of Attorney
Appointed Guardian
Letter of Intent
Advance Medical Directive

By including these critical documents in your estate plan, you create a clear roadmap for your future and the well-being of your loved ones.

What Is An Advanced Healthcare Directive?

An advance healthcare directive is a legal document in which you can express your specific wishes regarding your healthcare and appoint a loved one or other trusted person to make sure that your wishes are communicated or carried out. An advance healthcare directive can also direct medical professionals should something happen to you that renders you speechless, even if they cannot contact your loved ones. The experienced healthcare directive attorneys at Beeman Heifner Benge are here to assist you in creating an advance healthcare directive to give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can choose what happens to you in a healthcare setting, even if you can’t speak for yourself at the time.

What is Commonly Included in a Healthcare Directive?

One of the most important things a healthcare directive commonly does is to name a person whom you trust to convey your wishes as you have expressed them, but also to make decisions in cases where there is no knowledge of your thoughts on the matter. An advanced healthcare directive can also specify any person or persons whom you specifically do not want to make healthcare decisions for you, such as a family member who does not share your particular religious beliefs, for example.

Other Healthcare Directive Requests

Other common points included in a healthcare directive are your wishes for or against life-extending treatments such as artificial breathing machines, feeding tubes, or other medical interventions to extend your life if the prognosis for your full recovery is not good.

End-of-life Care

End-of-life care is often addressed as well. What does a “good death” look like to you? Do you want every intervention possible, or would you prefer to pass away more peacefully, without medical encumbrances?
These are the kinds of questions that an advanced healthcare directive can address.

Are Doctors Legally Bound By My Healthcare Directive in Indiana?

Advance directives are legally binding documents, provided you have met the requirements for making them legal. This may involve having witnesses to your signature and notarizing the document. The best way to ensure that your advance healthcare directive will be honored is to consult a skilled Indiana advance directives attorney who will know and assist you in complying with all requirements.

How Do I Choose My Healthcare Agent?

Your healthcare agent or proxy is the person you empower to make decisions for your medical care if you are unable to do so yourself. It is best to choose a person who is easily reachable by telephone, who lives nearby enough to get to your side quickly, and who knows you well enough to feel comfortable making decisions when something comes up that you have not discussed. Your agent should be calm in a crisis, able to make quick decisions, and willing to question authority while also remaining diplomatic and thoughtful.

How Can an Advance Directive Attorney Help?

It is difficult, if not impossible, to anticipate every situation that might arise in which you need an agent to make your healthcare decisions for you. An experienced healthcare directives attorney can go over questions that might not have occurred to you and can ensure that all of the legal requirements are met to make your healthcare directive valid and binding.

Call (765) 684-4355 today for a free consultation.