Planning for your health care needs is an essential part of creating a comprehensive estate plan. One important aspect of this planning is creating an advance health care directive, which ensures your medical preferences are known and respected if you become unable to communicate them yourself. In Tennessee, advance health care directives allow you to outline your wishes and appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf. At Jerry Long, Attorney at Law, we want to help you understand how advance health care directives work and why they are important.

What Is an Advance Health Care Directive?

An advance health care directive, also known as a living will or medical power of attorney, is a legal document that allows you to specify your preferences for medical care in the event you become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself. In Tennessee, advance health care directives typically include two key components:

• Living Will: A living will outlines your preferences for medical treatment, such as life-sustaining measures, pain management, and end-of-life care. It allows you to communicate your wishes in advance to ensure they are respected.
• Health Care Power of Attorney: This document allows you to appoint a trusted person (known as your health care agent or proxy) to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot do so. Your agent is responsible for carrying out your wishes as outlined in your living will and making decisions that align with your preferences.

Benefits of an Advance Health Care Directive

Creating an advance health care directive offers several important benefits:

• Control Over Your Medical Care: By specifying your preferences for medical treatment, you can ensure your wishes are respected even if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
• Peace of Mind for Loved Ones: An advance health care directive can provide guidance to your loved ones and medical providers, reducing the burden on them to make difficult decisions during a stressful time.
• Avoiding Family Disputes: Clearly outlining your medical preferences can help prevent disagreements among family members about your care.
• Flexibility: You can update your advance health care directive as your circumstances and preferences change, allowing you to maintain control over your medical decisions.

Creating an Advance Health Care Directive in Tennessee

To create an advance health care directive in Tennessee, you need to take the following steps:

1. Choose Your Health Care Agent: Select a trusted person to act as your health care agent and make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
2. Outline Your Medical Preferences: Specify your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, organ donation, and other medical care.
3. Complete the Necessary Forms: Tennessee provides standard forms for advance health care directives, which you can use to document your preferences and appoint your health care agent.
4. Sign and Witness the Document or Notarized: Your advance health care directive must be signed and witnessed by two individuals or notarized by a notary public to be valid.
5. Share Copies with Key Individuals: Provide copies of your advance health care directive to your health care agent, loved ones, and medical providers so they are aware of your wishes.

Seek Legal Guidance

Creating an advance health care directive is an important step in securing your medical preferences and providing guidance to your loved ones. At Jerry Long, Attorney at Law, our experienced estate planning attorneys can assist you in creating a personalized advance health care directive that reflects your values and wishes. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the next step in planning for your future health care needs.

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney for legal guidance tailored to your specific situation.