Advance Directives Attorney
in Columbus, Ohio

Among the nearly 800,000 Americans surveyed in over 150 different studies performed by the Palliative and Advanced Illness Research Center, it turns out that only 36.7% of them had completed some form of advance directive. If you are starting to think about estate planning, you may be aware of advance directives or it may be something completely new. Whether you know that you need an advance directive already or you are not entirely sure what an advance directive really is and are trying to figure out if it’s something you really need, an experienced attorney can help.

At The Law Office of Gregory L. Williams, I am here for you. Creating an estate plan can seem daunting because it reminds us of the end of our lives, but it is a necessary step to care for your family and yourself. My firm can help protect you and your beneficiaries and ensure your assets are protected and wishes upheld.

I proudly serve clients in Columbus, Ohio as well as the surrounding areas throughout central Ohio. Reach out to me today to schedule a consultation to learn more about your options.

What is an Advance Directive?

An advance directive is a written statement of a person's wishes regarding medical treatment, often including a living will, made to ensure those wishes are carried out should the person be unable to communicate them to doctors or other medical personnel.

There are three main types of advance directives: a living will, power of attorney, and health care proxy. Each type includes different decision-making powers:

• A living will covers the kind of medical treatment that you desire if something were to happen.

• A power of attorney allows a designated person to make bank transactions, sign Social Security checks, apply for disability, or simply write checks to pay the utility bill while you are medically incapacitated.

• A healthcare proxy allows a designated person to make medical decisions on your behalf. 

Healthcare Representative

When it comes to choosing your healthcare representative, it is no light decision. You have to make sure that you choose someone you can trust who will have your best interests in mind. You can appoint any adult of your choice. Many people choose their spouse, close friend or family member, or sibling. Your attorney can help guide you with that decision.

Once you decide who you want to be your healthcare representative, you have to make sure that they know and understand what type of treatment you would want if you become medically incapacitated. In addition to writing the directive out, they have to serve as your voice when you cannot speak for yourself. Their responsibilities include making treatment and possibly end-of-life choices for you if you become severely ill and unable to communicate your own wishes.

Making Modifications

Life changes and can throw curveballs our way. If you dictate your advance directive and then decide you want to change it, it is not set in stone. You can change your living will or any of the people you gave representative power to at any time.

Your attorney can help you fill out the appropriate paperwork to change your advance directive. This is something that you should always keep current because you never know what could happen and when you will need it.