Advance Directives
Advanced directives are legal documents that give a specific person the legal power to act on your behalf and make decisions for you when you are not able to make those decisions yourself.
In Ohio, advanced directives refer to healthcare powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, living wills, and bodily remains directives. |
Why do advanced directives matter?
Having advanced directives are a proactive step to make sure your wishes about your medical care are honored and communicated to your care providers. While an uncomfortable subject, a health crisis can happen any given day. No one expects the worst will happen, so being prepared for anything to protect yourself and your family is imperative. Financial powers of attorney are important to make sure your bills, debts, and other financial and legal needs are taken care of if you are incapacitated.
How are advanced directives prepared?
Any person over the age of 18 can make the decisions required for an advanced directive. While you do not need an attorney to complete the forms, having the advice of a legal profession can clarify your wishes in the directive and make sure your wishes are followed.
Having advanced directives are a proactive step to make sure your wishes about your medical care are honored and communicated to your care providers. While an uncomfortable subject, a health crisis can happen any given day. No one expects the worst will happen, so being prepared for anything to protect yourself and your family is imperative. Financial powers of attorney are important to make sure your bills, debts, and other financial and legal needs are taken care of if you are incapacitated.
How are advanced directives prepared?
Any person over the age of 18 can make the decisions required for an advanced directive. While you do not need an attorney to complete the forms, having the advice of a legal profession can clarify your wishes in the directive and make sure your wishes are followed.