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The importance of an advance healthcare directive

On Behalf of | Oct 3, 2019 | Estate Planning

There are many important components of an effective Pennsylvania estate plan and an advance healthcare directive is one of them. Having an advance healthcare directive can provide peace of mind for both the estate planner and their loved ones, when the time comes that the estate planner can no longer make medical decisions for themselves.

An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that allows the estate planner to express their wishes concerning the medical care and treatment if they become incapacitated and are unable to do so at some point. It also allows the estate planner during the estate planning process to designate a person to make healthcare decisions on their behalf, if the estate planner becomes incapacitated and is unable do so for themselves.

There are two types of advance healthcare directives, including a living will and healthcare power of attorney. Estate planners should know which type is used where they live and the rules associated with each because they may be different and the estate planner will also want to ensure that whichever type they use, that it is valid. There are also specific circumstances when an advance healthcare directive is considered effective that estate planners and their families should also be familiar with.

An advance healthcare directive allows the estate planner to direct healthcare decisions according to their wishes because of its contents that reflect their wishes, even if they become incapacitated at some point. As such, it is a valuable estate planning tool for estate planners and their loved ones to utilize.

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