Having clearly defined directives helps relatives make difficult choices with confidence, reduces family conflict, and aligns medical care with your personal values. A well drafted plan minimizes delays, clarifies preferences about life-sustaining treatments, and streamlines decisions for physicians and guardians during emergencies or incapacity.
A well integrated plan helps ensure continuity of care across settings, from home to hospital, by providing accessible, consistent guidance that clinicians can follow without guesswork or delay.
Our seasoned team combines estate planning, elder law, and probate experience with a client-centered approach. We listen carefully, explain options clearly, and help you create documents that reflect your values and protect your loved ones.
We schedule regular reviews to update directives when your circumstances change, ensuring continued alignment with wishes and legal standards.
An advance directive records your medical preferences for treatment and appoints a healthcare agent to make decisions if you lose capacity. This document helps ensure your values guide care across settings and reduces uncertainty for family members and clinicians during difficult moments. It also provides a clear path for honoring your wishes.
Choose someone you trust to advocate for your wishes, ideally a person who understands your values and is likely to be calm and decisive under pressure. Discuss your goals with them and ensure they are willing to act in your best interests. It is also wise to name alternates in case your first choice cannot serve.
Review directives at least annually or after major life changes such as marriage, birth of a child, or a new diagnosis. Regular updates ensure the documents reflect current wishes, medical advances, and any shifts in your family dynamics or place of residence.
Yes. You can modify or revoke directives at any time while you retain decision-making capacity. The process typically requires updating the documents, notifying involved parties, and confirming changes with witnesses or a notary where required by North Carolina law.
Most states honor valid directives when there is clear intent and proper execution. If you have documents from another state, bring them to review with us to ensure they align with North Carolina requirements and to determine if updates or translations are needed.
If there is no family available, you can appoint a trusted friend, an institution, or a designated guardian. We help you select a suitable proxy and discuss contingencies to ensure someone you trust can advocate for you under NC law.
Execution typically involves signing in the presence of witnesses or a notary, following state requirements, and distributing copies to your agents and healthcare providers. We guide you through each step to ensure your documents are legally valid and readily accessible.
Gather identification, current medical information, a list of medications, names and contact details for physicians, and any prior directives. Also consider discussing your goals with your healthcare agent and family to create coherent and comprehensive directives.
Yes. Documents stored with your attorney, provided to your healthcare agent, and kept in accessible locations help protect your privacy while ensuring clinicians can access information when needed. We also offer secure digital copies and guidance on secure storage.
Common mistakes include vague language, missing appointment of an agent, failing to sign properly, or not updating documents after significant life changes. We help you avoid these issues by providing clear, precise language and a structured review process.
