Irving Living Wills Attorney

Lawyer for Advance Medical Directives in Dallas County

For many individuals and families, the estate planning process primarily addresses issues related to money and property. Since a person will want to make sure their loved ones are provided for, they can create a will that details what will happen after their death, and they can create trusts that will allow assets to be transferred to their beneficiaries. However, a person can also use their estate plan to address their own needs, including making sure they will receive the proper medical care as they approach the end of their life. By creating documents that address these issues, a person can make sure their wishes will be followed correctly if they ever become incapacitated or are unable to express their desires to their loved ones.

A living will and other advance medical directives can be an essential part of a comprehensive estate plan. Andrew Dunlap Attorneys, PLLC can help you and your family determine the estate planning tools that will best meet your needs, and he will work with you to create and execute all of the necessary documents to ensure your wishes will be followed. With over 40 years of legal experience, Mr. Dunlap can guide you through the estate planning process while explaining your rights and making sure you and your loved ones are fully prepared for whatever the future may bring.

Advance Medical Directives in Texas

By making decisions about the types of medical treatment they do or do not want to receive, you can not only make sure their needs will be met, but you can help your loved ones avoid uncertainty. Since advance medical directives will usually apply if you are terminally ill and unconscious or unable to communicate with others, you can make sure family members make the right choices about whether you should be kept alive, the types of care that should be used to alleviate your pain and discomfort, or other forms of end-of-life care.

Texas law identifies the following types of advance medical directives:

• Living will/directive to physicians - This document will state a person's wishes in cases where they suffer from an illness or injury that will result in their death. In situations where a person's medical condition is irreversible and they are unable to make decisions on their own, this document may state that they wish for all forms of medical treatment to be withheld other than those meant to make them comfortable and ease their passing, or a person may request to be kept alive as long as possible. A person can also include specific instructions about treatments they do or do not want to receive, and they can name a person who will work alongside their doctors to make decisions on their behalf.
• Medical power of attorney - To ensure that someone they trust will have the authority to make decisions on their behalf, a person may create a legal agreement that details the types of decisions that may be made and the wishes for the care they want to receive. A power of attorney can address end-of-life care or other forms of medical care, and it can include detailed instructions for how a person wants different types of medical issues to be handled.
• Do-not-resuscitate order - A person may decide that they do not want to receive certain types of life-saving treatment if they stop breathing or their heart stops beating. These orders may apply to CPR, defibrillation, artificial ventilation, or other live-saving methods used in a non-hospital setting, including nursing homes, hospice facilities, or private residences.
• Declaration of mental health treatment - A person may sign a document either consenting to or refusing certain types of treatment for mental health issues. This treatment may include different types of medications or electroconvulsive treatment. A person may also state that in an emergency situation, they would prefer to receive treatment in the form of restraint, seclusion, or medication.
  

Contact Our North Texas Advance Medical Directives Lawyer

By making decisions about your medical care ahead of time, you can ensure that you will receive the treatment you need, and you can also help your loved ones avoid confusion and uncertainty about what you would want. To ensure that these issues are addressed correctly in your estate plan, contact Andrew Dunlap Attorneys, PLLC at 972-807-6357 and schedule a consultation today. We help families create comprehensive estate plans throughout the greater Dallas area.