Help You Prepare for the Unexpected

In the event you become disabled and can no longer make end-of-life choices yourself, a properly drafted Living Will states your wishes and a plan of action regarding medical treatment and life-sustaining measures.

At Deeb Elder Law, we understand Florida laws governing Living Wills. Our attorneys are skilled at crafting these instruments to reflect your wishes and needs with respect to end-of-life decisions. We know these can be emotional decisions. Our caring attorneys carefully guide you through varied scenarios and options you need to consider. We are also qualified to draft Catholic Living Wills, as currently approved by the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

A Living Will directs your doctor as to whether or not they will administer life-prolonging procedures. It provides clear guidelines for your doctor and health care providers to follow. It clarifies the medical treatment you do not want, and requests treatment you do want, should you become incapacitated with no expectation for recovery, or death is imminent.

A Florida Living Will covers three types of conditions:

• Persistent vegetative state
• End-stage condition
• Terminal condition

If the attending physician and one other physician make one of the above diagnoses, and a person directs in a Living Will that no life-prolonging medical treatments are to be pursued, then no life-prolonging procedure should be administered. Under Florida statute, the definition of life prolonging procedures has been broadened to include providing food and water to terminally ill patients.

A Florida Living Will is an important part of your Advance Directive. It becomes a valuable aid to loved ones if they must make health care decisions for you. The written designation of a Health Care Surrogate and a written Living Will can help ensure that frustration and confusion are avoided during a stressful time and ensure that your wishes will be followed.

A copy of the Living Will should be presented to your physicians and family members, and the original Living Will should be kept in a secure, well-established location. You may revoke your Living Will at any time.

Keep in mind, a Living Will is a very different device than a person’s legal Will (Last Will and Testament), which controls the distribution of a person’s probate assets at the time of his or her death.

Contact Our Living Wills Attorneys Today

By clearly stating your end-of-life choices, your Living Will declares how you feel about medical measures used to prolong your life, and whether you want to be kept alive by extraordinary life-saving measures or life-sustaining treatment. Without a valid Living Will, you may be kept alive against your wishes, and your plight may lead to significant grief and undue burden among your loved ones.

When you need to draft Estate Planning documents such as a Living Will or other Advance Healthcare Directive, working closely with an experienced lawyer who is able to explain all of your options and give insights into various scenarios is vital.

Contact Deeb Elder Law today to speak with an experienced St. Petersburg Estate Planning attorney.