Advance directives empower you to control the medical care you receive and ease decision making for family members during stressful times. They help ensure respect for personal values, reduce disagreement among relatives, and streamline hospital workflows. Properly drafted directives also provide clear appointment of healthcare agents to act on your behalf when necessary.
A unified set of documents minimizes confusion, enabling clinicians to follow your wishes without second guessing. Consistency across documents reduces the risk of inadvertently conflicting instructions.
Our team listens carefully to your goals, provides clear explanations of options, and drafts documents that hold up under Maryland law. We prioritize accessibility, accuracy, and timely communication throughout the process.
We facilitate communication between your care team, your chosen agent, and your family to ensure a cohesive approach to your medical care.
An advance directive is a legal instrument that records your medical treatment preferences. It also designates someone you trust to make healthcare decisions if you are unable to communicate. This helps ensure your wishes guide care even if you cannot speak for yourself. It is a foundational element of prudent estate planning.
A living will specifies the treatments you want or do not want in end-of-life situations, while a healthcare proxy appoints a decision-maker to act on your behalf in medical matters when you cannot. Both documents complement each other to provide clear guidance across scenarios.
Choose someone who understands your values, can communicate effectively with doctors, and is willing to enforce your wishes. Consider their ability to handle stressful situations and their proximity for accessibility. It is common to discuss your plans with this person before finalizing the documents.
Draft the documents for your medical choices, designate a trusted agent, and specify any limitations or preferences. You should also prepare a durable power of attorney for healthcare and ensure your signature is witnessed or notarized as required by Maryland law.
Yes. Maryland recognizes advance directives across accredited medical settings. To ensure portability, keep copies with your primary care physician, your agent, and in a secure personal file. Provide updated copies to hospitals or facilities you may encounter.
Absolutely. Life changes such as marriage, divorce, relocation, or health status updates warrant review. We recommend a formal check at least every two years to keep language accurate and ensure the directives reflect your current preferences.
Store copies in multiple accessible locations and share with your medical team and caregiver. Consider providing both physical and digital copies to your physician, hospital, and attorney. Keeping information current helps clinicians locate the documents quickly during emergencies.
Cost varies with complexity and whether you need multiple documents. We provide transparent pricing and options for essential directives plus additional documents such as guardianship and durable powers of attorney. Investing in planning now helps prevent costly disputes later.
The initial drafting and execution typically takes a few weeks, depending on your readiness and coordination with witnesses or notaries. We aim to complete a complete set of directives efficiently while ensuring accuracy and legal validity.
If you become unable to communicate, your documents remain in effect if properly executed. Your healthcare agent or court-appointed guardian will follow your directives, and our team can assist in updating records as needed to reflect new wishes.
