If you mention the term “estate planning,” most people in Collin County probably think of wills, trusts, and other legal mechanisms involving property. These provide important ways to prepare for the future, but there are other critical documents you should also include in your estate plan. To be fully covered, you should have documents that address healthcare decision-making.

A serious illness or sudden accident could make it impossible for you to make or communicate decisions about your medical treatment. With advance preparation and the help of McKinney estate planning lawyers, you can set up your affairs to ensure that your wishes are respected and ease the burden on your loved ones.

A Medical Power of Attorney Helps You Get the Right Treatment

If you are unconscious, you cannot give consent to medical procedures. The laws of Texas allow doctors to take some emergency actions without your consent, but there is no guarantee they will provide the treatment you would have wanted. When you engage McKinney estate planning lawyers to prepare a medical power of attorney, you won’t have to worry.

A medical power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. You can provide broad authority to make all types of decisions, or you can give someone very limited authority to make decisions only in certain situations. It is important to comply with Texas law when setting up power of attorney documents to ensure they operate as intended.

A Living Will Gives You a Voice

A living will seems like it should be a document dealing with property, but the term is misleading. Instead, a living will allows you to inform doctors and other healthcare providers about your desires regarding end-of-life care. Not only could this document ensure that your wishes are followed, but it also provides peace of mind for your family.

Under Texas law, a living will is a type of Advance Directive. This document takes effect if a doctor determines that a patient is suffering from a terminal condition expected to lead to death within six months. In a living will, you can let doctors know whether you wish to receive certain life-sustaining treatment such as nutrition.

Other advance directives recognized by Texas law include the medical power of attorney and an Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order. Your estate planning attorneys in McKinney could assist with preparing the right documents for your situation. If you created advance directives some years ago, it may be wise to have the documents reviewed to ensure they still comply with current laws.

McKinney Estate Planning Lawyers Can Help Ensure Your Plan Gives You Full Coverage

No one knows exactly what the future holds, but we all do know that change is inevitable. Experienced McKinney estate planning lawyers could review your goals and existing documents and make sure you have what you need to protect yourself and your loved ones in the future. To learn more about healthcare decision-making or other aspects of estate planning, contact us today.