It is important to have a strong estate plan as you get older. Careful attention to detail means your wishes will be carried out as you instructed. A living will is a significant document that will legally state your end-of-life wishes when you are unable to speak for yourself.
If you live in Georgia, your living will may be part of a document called the Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care. This combines a living will with an Advance Directive into one form. Our living will lawyers in Woodstock can help you complete it correctly.
Our team at Nelson Elder Care Law has served hundreds of Georgia families and helped them with their legal issues. Call today to schedule your Legacy Planning Meeting, where you can learn more about how our Woodstock elder care lawyers can assist you.
What Is the Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care?
Georgia’s Advance Directive for Healthcare is the single document you need for legally stating your wishes and naming the people authorized to make medical choices on your behalf. It includes:
- A living will section, which includes your choices for life-sustaining care and medical treatments such as CPR or feeding tubes if you can’t state your wishes yourself.
- An Advance Directive that names a trusted agent to make medical choices for you when you can’t speak on your own.
Without an Advance Directive, you and your family may be left out of the loop for medical decisions. Without a living will, your wishes for life-sustaining care will not be known. Our living will attorneys in Woodstock can d help you make sure the documents you need are legal and in place.
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How Can You Make a New Advance Directive in Georgia?Drafting a new Advance Directive is fairly straightforward. Georgia has a form you can fill out and directions to follow. Unfortunately, it’s this simplicity that sometimes gets people in trouble. One mistake here can mean your document isn’t legally valid.
Our elder law attorneys can make sure your Advance Directive for Health Care will hold up to legal challenges and will accurately reflect your wishes and best interests. Don’t take chances with a do-it-yourself approach when it comes to something so important.
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Are Existing Living Wills Still Valid?
Yes, if you have a living will that was legally created before the change took place, it is still legally valid in Georgia. However, if you want to make changes to your living will, you may not create a new one. You would instead create an Advance Directive for Health Care.
This would include your healthcare power of attorney as well, even if you already have one in place. The new Advance Directive would take precedence over your older power of attorney. Make sure key decision makers in your life have a copy of the newest document.
It has been a long time since the changeover took place, and it’s a good idea to update your living will every so often. Our Woodstock living will lawyers can review your current documents, offer advice, and help you create a new Advance Directive for Health Care if you wish.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Living Will?
If you do not have a living will and can no longer communicate, others may make medical decisions for you based on state law. In Georgia, doctors will usually look for a surrogate decision-maker according to the order set by state rules.
If no appropriate person is available or there is disagreement among family members, healthcare providers may seek guidance from a court, which can appoint a guardian to make decisions on your behalf. This is a lengthy and costly process.
Without a living will, your personal wishes about life-sustaining treatments may not be clearly known or followed. This can lead to confusion, delays, or conflict during already stressful situations. Having a living will helps ensure your preferences are respected and reduces the burden on loved ones.
Get Help from Our Living Will Attorneys in Woodstock
Your living will is one of the most significant parts of your estate plan. The Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care makes sure you have the people you want making decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make them on your own due to illness or injury.
Many people attempt to draft their Advance Directive on their own, but that creates the potential for errors you might not know about until it is too late. Our living will attorneys in Woodstock can make sure your documents are complete, legal, and reflective of your wishes.
Nelson Elder Care Law has been an advocate on behalf of Georgia families for more than a decade. We are here to help you deal with life’s curveballs. Call today to set up your Legacy Planning Meeting and discuss your living will and other estate planning concerns.
