Having directives in place ensures your healthcare choices are respected, even if you cannot communicate them. They clarify preferences about life-sustaining treatment, hospital selection, and emergency care, reducing stress for family members during stressful times. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney helps align documents with Maryland law.
A comprehensive approach reduces last-minute questions during emergencies by providing your care team with clear instructions and chosen representatives. This minimizes confusion and supports timely, values-aligned care.
Our firm focuses on estate planning and elder law in Maryland, with a practical approach that emphasizes clarity, accessibility, and client understanding. We tailor directives to your specific health concerns, family structure, and care preferences, ensuring a smooth process from initial questions to final signatures.
An advance directive is a legal instrument that records your preferences for medical treatment if you become unable to communicate. It may include a living will and a health care proxy to appoint someone you trust to speak for you. This helps ensure your wishes guide care when you cannot express them. A well-crafted directive also clarifies who should be contacted and how decisions should be made in emergencies.
A health care proxy designates a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot speak for yourself. The proxy should understand your values and be willing to advocate for your preferences, including treatment choices, hospital preferences, and approach to end-of-life care.
A living will expresses your preferences about medical treatments in specific situations, such as artificial nutrition or respiratory support. It guides clinicians when you are unable to communicate, helping ensure your wishes are respected even if family members disagree.
Yes. Maryland typically requires witnesses or a notary for certain directive executions, depending on the document type. We guide you through the proper signing process to ensure your instruments are legally recognized and easy to locate when needed.
It is wise to review directives every few years or after major life changes, such as illness, marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child. Regular updates keep your documents aligned with current health status, relationships, and legal requirements.
Yes. Directives should be updated to reflect new health information, changes in care preferences, or shifts in family circumstances. We help you revise documents and re-sign with proper witnesses or notaries to maintain enforceability.
Store copies in a secure, accessible location and share them with your primary care physician, hospital, and your health care proxy. Maintain both digital and physical copies and consider providing a summary sheet for caregivers.
Directives should be followed when valid, but medical teams may need to resolve conflicts if instructions are unclear or disputed by family members. Having a clear, updated directive reduces the likelihood of disregard or misinterpretation.
Discuss your overall health goals, specific treatments you want to avoid, locations where you prefer care, and the identity of your chosen proxy. Also cover preferences about organ donation, pain management, and spiritual or cultural considerations.
Costs vary by complexity and whether additional services such as durable powers of attorney, asset coordination, or storage solutions are included. We provide an upfront estimate and work with you to tailor a plan within your budget.
