Advance Directive Lawyer

Most individuals avoid thinking about death or dying until it is necessary or too late.  However, neglecting to prepare for such occurrences can place loved ones in precarious situations in which they must struggle with difficult decisions about important matters. Matters like whether to keep a parent alive with a ventilator or who should manage a person’s financial affairs while they are incapacitated.

Advance directives are designed to assist health care professionals and individuals in formulating end-of-life decisions when an individual is unable to do so on their own, saving beloved family members from having to make difficult choices.  Advance directives are critical tools for anyone, as even healthy individuals could be involved in accidents, rendering them unable to speak for themselves.  With an advance directive, you have the power to make your wishes clear, avoiding many undesirable outcomes.

If you are interested in ensuring your wishes are followed in the event of incapacitation or a life-threatening illness, we encourage you to call our office to schedule a free consultation with Frankfort advance directive lawyer Ryan Hejmanowski to learn more about our affordable estate planning services.

RNH Law proudly provides estate planning services for residents of Frankfort and the surrounding communities, including Joliet, New Lenox, Matteson, and Tinley Park.

What Are the Common Types of Advance Directives?

There are two primary types of advance directives:

• Living Will.  A living will allows an individual to specify, in writing, preferences for end-of-life treatment, including whether to administer certain medical care, such as cardiac resuscitation, a feeding tube, or mechanical respiration.
• Power of Attorney.  In the event of mental or physical incapacitation, powers of attorney allow individuals to appoint other parties to act as their agents.  For example, a person may be appointed to make critical healthcare decisions through a healthcare power of attorney.  At the same time, someone else can be tasked with managing assets and fiduciary responsibilities through a financial power of attorney.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Execute an Advance Directive?

There are many questions to consider when formulating an advance directive, such as, but not limited to:

• Should pain relief be administered, even if it could hasten your death?
• Which life-sustaining options should be utilized (e.g., a feeding tube, mechanical ventilation, CPR, organ transplant, blood transfusions, etc.)?
• Should life support be discontinued if you are found to be brain dead?
• Should your organs be donated?
• How should your body be disposed of (e.g., burial, cremation, donation to research, etc.)?
• Will placing a spouse or child in charge of making medical decisions be too emotionally taxing?
• Will the individual you place in charge of medical decisions be willing to ask challenging questions to medical personnel?
• What party will make the best financial decisions regarding your affairs?

As an experienced advance directive lawyer, Ryan Hejmanowski understands the types of questions that need to be asked and the unique situations that frequently require advance decisions.  He can walk you through such scenarios to ensure your wishes are followed.

Please do not wait until it is too late to make your wishes known.  Call our office today to schedule a free consultation to learn about your estate planning options and about how you can protect your loved ones from having to make gut-wrenching decisions.