Indianapolis estate planning attorneys can provide you with help creating advanced directives for healthcare. Far too many people do not have advanced directives in place and the consequences of not creating advanced directives can be very damaging for individuals and their families if a health problem arises.
Frank & Kraft is here and ready to help you understand the types of advanced directives you need and can help you to create legally valid documents that express your wishes on healthcare in case of a medical emergency. You should give us a call today to find out how our Indianapolis estate planning attorneys can help. You can also read on to find out about some of the key reasons why you should create advanced directives.
Advanced Directives Give You More Control
If you get very sick or are in a terrible accident, life-and-death medical decisions may need to be made at a time when you are not able to communicate. If you do not have advanced directives in place, these very important and highly personal decisions will be made without you having any control or any say. The court could appoint someone to make these decisions for you and that person might not know what you want.
If you have created advanced directives, you can specify in advance specific circumstances where you do and don’t want extraordinary measures used to keep you alive and you can provide detailed instructions on whether specific types of medical interventions should be used such as whether you want a feeding tube or a ventilator to keep you alive. Tough decisions on medical care will be made by you, giving you the maximum in control over your future.
Advanced Directives Allow for Timely Decisions to Be Made
If you have made clear in advance what kinds of medical care you do and do not wish to receive, there will be no question in the moment about the best course of action. This will allow medical professionals to act in a timely manner in accordance with your wishes, rather than being forced to delay until a determination is made about who to get consent from in relation to procedures you need.
You can also provide not only details about specific kinds of care you do and do not want, but also instructions for who will make decisions on your behalf if something happens. By naming a healthcare proxy, doctors know exactly who to consult when choices must be made about your care.
Advanced Directives Spare Your Family from Making Hard Choices
If you haven’t provided instructions in advance, your family could be forced into a position where they have to decide to decline life-saving interventions or remove life support. If your loved ones do not know what your wishes would have been, they can be forced to make really difficult decisions about your future without any input from you. They could be left confused over what is right and could face lingering guilt about the decision they make if things do not turn out well.
Advanced Directives Can Prevent Family Fighting
Your loved ones may become involved in a dispute over who should make decisions on your behalf if something happens to you and you have no advanced directives in place. They could also end up fighting over whether you would have wanted to receive care or would have preferred to decline care. Your loved ones could end up in court arguing over what is right for you — and important family relationships could be destroyed permanently because of the fighting. You don’t want a dispute over your care to drive a wedge between your family members.
Getting Help from Indianapolis Estate Planning Attorneys
Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft will provide the assistance you need to create a healthcare power of attorney, a living will, a Do Not Resuscitate order, or any other advanced directives for healthcare that are appropriate to your particular situation.
To find out more about how our firm can help you to be prepared in case of a healthcare emergency, give us a call at 317-684-1100 or contact us online. You can also join us for a free seminar to get advice about all of the legal services we can provide as you prepare for health issues and make your legacy plan. Reach out to our firm today to get an advocate on your side.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
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