Florida Power of Attorney and Living Will Lawyer
Florida Living Will Lawyer
At the law firm of Craig F. Snyder, P.A. we go beyond helping people create an estate plan and protect their assets. We also provide services for people who are concerned about their financial and physical well-being while they are still alive. A power of attorney and living will (also called advance health care directive) can help ensure you are properly cared for if you are incapacitated or otherwise cannot care for yourself.
Attorney Craig F. Snyder can help you draft a living will or appoint an agent and other representatives under a power of attorney as necessary. He will make sure you are fully informed of the powers and limits of these tools so you and your family can be fully prepared when situations arise for which these tools are designed to help. Contact our firm today to speak with attorney Snyder about your needs.
Living Wills
Living wills provide direction as to the type and level of medical care someone should receive if he or she is suffering from an end stage condition, persistent vegetative state, or a terminal illness leaving that person incapacitated to speak/act voluntarily for themselves, i.e., you cannot even "blink" your wishes to medical personnel. This may include direction on hooking someone to a ventilator, providing feeding tubes for food and water, and taking other aggressive measures to prolong someone's life. It is important to have a living will to avoid the burden on family members in making these difficult life and death decisions to preserve your right and dignity to be the person in control of your desired destiny under such circumstances.
Power of Attorney
In Florida, persons may appoint an agent under a power of attorney to handle their financial and/or their medical affairs. A "Durable" Power of Attorney is one that continues despite the incapacity of the power giver-the principal. The agent under a healthcare power of attorney may have the authority to carry out the living will, obtain medical information, or have other powers. The agent under a financial power of attorney can manage things such as the sale of a home, banking accounts and other financial transactions. Due to the nature and extent of the authorities you may desire to bestow upon someone who may act for you, these documents are often segregated between one to handle financial/property and "ministerial" acts of your daily life while another document is used to manage your physical and emotional health and well being in times that have nothing to do with the "end of life" situations as customarily handled by a living will. These types of instruments may be signed to be effective immediately or may "spring to life" at some time or event in the future. Mr. Snyder will explain the options available for restricting the powers granted or instituting powers to these representatives, and will help you make a decision that is appropriate for your situation.
A Compassionate Legal Team
We represent people creating a living will or a power of attorney, as well as the agents under these types of documents. We have experience and understanding of how powers of attorney are received in the commercial and medical worlds. Valerie B. Snyder is additionally a geriatric social worker by trade with hands on institutional experiences in these matters, and works closely with attorney Snyder and the clients to choose appropriate representatives and powers granted to them so as to prepare you for this aspect of life's uncertainties. As a team, they help ensure clients' wishes are clearly expressed and managed.
To discuss appointing a power of attorney or creating a health care directive, contact our firm today to schedule an appointment.