Coral Gables, FL Living Will Lawyers

No matter how healthy or young you might feel today, unexpected events can occur without warning. Even with our best efforts to stay safe, we can never fully control what lies ahead. That is why it is important to have a plan in place, especially when it comes to healthcare decisions.

A living will is a special legal document that explains your wishes about medical treatment if you become too sick or injured to communicate them yourself. Unlike a regular will, which guides the distribution of your possessions after you pass away, a living will guides doctors and family members about your care while you are still alive.

Our law firm in Coral Gables, Florida, helps people understand, create, and update living wills. We believe everyone should have the power to decide what type of medical care they receive—even if they cannot talk or make their wishes known at the time.

Table of Contents

• Why Choose Our Coral Gables, FL Living Will Lawyers?
• Why Is a Living Will Important?
• Living Will vs. Other Estate Planning Tools
• Key Elements of a Living Will
• Updating Your Living Will
• Contact The Estate Plan’s Coral Gables Living Will Attorneys

Why Choose Our Coral Gables, FL Living Will Lawyers?

Working with our local lawyers in Coral Gables gives you several advantages. First, our local lawyers know Florida laws in detail, so they can guide you more efficiently. Second, if you ever have to make quick changes or if a medical emergency arises, having us nearby can be a huge help.

Our office is also located at 2625 Ponce de Leon Suite 280, Coral Gables, FL 33134, just a short distance from well-known spots like Ponce Circle Park.

Our Coral Gables living will attorneys at The Estate Plan help you in the following ways:

• We Know Florida Law: Our estate planning lawyers have deep knowledge of Florida laws regarding living wills and other healthcare directives. We can explain all the rules and make sure your wishes are clearly stated so they will be honored by medical professionals.
• We Listen to Your Concerns: Talking about serious medical issues can be emotional. Our team is patient and understanding, ensuring we address your questions and concerns in a clear, comforting way. We believe in giving our clients as much time as they need to feel at ease.
• We Make the Process Simple: You do not have to deal with complicated legal forms alone. We draft, review, and finalize your living will step by step, answering your questions and guiding you through the signing requirements.
• We Stay Available: Life changes, and so do your preferences. If you want to update your living will, or if a sudden event makes you rethink your healthcare choices, we are here to help you make any needed changes quickly.
• We Value Your Privacy: We handle all of your personal information with care and keep all discussions confidential. Our goal is to earn your trust by respecting your privacy and your personal wishes.

Why Is a Living Will Important?

One of the main reasons to have a living will is to bring clarity to your loved ones. During an already emotional time, family members may not agree on the right course of action for your care. By having your wishes in writing, you protect your family from confusion and conflict, allowing them to focus on supporting each other rather than worrying about making the “right” decision for you.

When you create a living will, you are expressing your values and beliefs about healthcare. This means you keep control over your body, even if you cannot talk or respond. Without a living will, medical professionals usually follow hospital guidelines, which may not always match your personal choices.

Knowing that you have a plan in place for serious situations can bring peace of mind to you and your family. You do not have to worry about “what if” scenarios because you have already taken steps to ensure your wishes will be followed.

If there is confusion about your medical care, your family might need to go to court to figure out what to do. This can be expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally draining. A living will often reduces or removes that necessity.

Living Will vs. Other Estate Planning Tools

Some people mix up living wills with other estate planning documents like regular wills or powers of attorney. However, these documents serve different purposes:

• Last Will and Testament: Explains how you want your money, property, and other assets to be shared after your death. It does not deal with medical decisions or healthcare choices while you are alive.
• Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Healthcare Surrogate): Lets you appoint someone to make healthcare decisions if you cannot make them yourself. However, this person makes choices for you unless you have written specific instructions.
• Durable Power of Attorney for Finances: Appoints someone to handle your money and property if you cannot do so. This is different from medical treatment instructions.

A living will focuses only on medical care preferences when you cannot speak for yourself. Often, having a living will along with other documents, like a healthcare surrogate designation, gives your plan the most complete coverage.

Key Elements of a Living Will

The key elements of a Florida living will include:

• Your Personal Values: Every person has different beliefs about medical treatments and end-of-life care. Some people want every possible treatment, while others prefer to limit medical interventions. A living will should reflect your personal choices.
• Specific Medical Procedures: Try to include details about which treatments you approve of, such as ventilators or feeding tubes, and which ones you do not. Clarity is important so doctors and caregivers do not have to guess.
• Conditions for Applying Your Wishes: You may want certain treatments only under specific conditions, like if there is a reasonable chance of recovery. Or you may choose to say no to treatments if you are not likely to regain consciousness or improve.
• Signing and Witness Requirements: In Florida, a living will typically must be signed by you and two witnesses. While it does not always have to be notarized, many people choose to have it notarized for extra certainty.

Updating Your Living Will

Remember, a living will is not a “set it and forget it” document. You should review it from time to time and decide if it still reflects your wishes. You may want to update your living will if:

• You receive a new medical diagnosis
• You get married or divorced, or your family situation changes
• You have children or grandchildren
• Your beliefs about certain treatments change

To make changes, you can either write a new document or add an amendment, known as a codicil. Always make sure any updates follow Florida’s rules for signing and witnessing.

Contact The Estate Plan’s Coral Gables Living Will Attorneys

Planning for the future may seem overwhelming, but creating a living will is one of the kindest and most responsible things you can do for yourself and your family. By clearly stating how you want to be cared for if you cannot speak, you give your loved ones a gift of certainty.

If you live in or near Coral Gables, FL, and want to learn more about living wills, our attorneys are here to help. Call The Estate Plan at (305) 735-2689 to schedule an appointment or discuss any questions you have. We will walk you through each step, explain your options, and make sure your living will meet all of Florida’s legal requirements.

Read about Healthcare Advance Directives