Key benefits include ensuring your medical treatment aligns with your values, appointing a healthcare proxy, naming preferences for life-sustaining measures, and facilitating communication among family members and medical providers to reduce confusion in challenging times.
Enhanced clarity for clinicians and caregivers, ensuring you receive the care you want and avoid unnecessary interventions when decisions are unclear or outdated.
We provide clear guidance, personalized document preparation, and careful coordination with your overall estate plan. Our approach emphasizes accessibility, practical drafting, and timely updates to reflect life changes and evolving laws.
We assist with updates after significant events such as illness, relocation, or changes in family circumstances.
An advance directive and living will express your medical preferences and designate someone to make decisions if you are unable. They help ensure your wishes guide care and reduce family disagreements during medical crises. A properly prepared directive is a practical and compassionate planning tool.
Choose someone you trust to advocate for your medical choices. Consider their understanding of your values, their ability to communicate with medical staff, and their willingness to stay informed about your situation. It’s wise to discuss your wishes with the candidate beforehand.
Yes. Maryland directives can be updated as your preferences change or law evolves. You should revisit and revise your documents after major life events, such as marriage, divorce, relocation, or changes in health status to maintain accuracy.
Without directives, medical decisions may default to family or physicians, potentially contradicting your values. Courts may intervene, causing delays and stress. Establishing directives now guides decisions consistently with your wishes and reduces uncertainty for loved ones.
Store the originals in a safe, accessible location and provide copies to your proxy, physician, and hospital. Share digital copies where permitted. Inform your family about where documents are kept and how to access them when needed.
Yes. Maryland recognizes advance directives when properly drafted, witnessed, and notarized. Our firm ensures all forms meet state requirements and are legally enforceable, helping you avoid challenges in medical settings.
Directives complement your Will, durable powers of attorney for property, and other estate documents. They specifically govern medical decisions, while your Will addresses asset distribution and final arrangements, allowing each document to serve its distinct purpose.
Costs vary by the complexity of your directives and the level of tailoring required. We provide clear, itemized estimates and work efficiently to deliver compliant, ready-to-use documents. Pricing often reflects initial drafting and any necessary updates.
Review directives at least every few years or after major life changes. Regular updates ensure accuracy, alignment with current law, and continued reflection of your wishes as circumstances evolve.
To start, contact our Federalsburg office for a brief consultation. We will discuss your goals, answer questions, and outline the drafting steps. After you decide, we prepare the documents and guide you through execution and storage.
