The health care surrogate designation and healthcare power of attorney documents can be created with the guidance of a credible Florida health care surrogate attorney. Both of these estate planning documents allow a designated person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself.
At Brightwell Law PLLC, we can help you draft the necessary estate planning documents that can protect your rights. Contact us now and schedule an initial consultation with our trusted Florida estate planning lawyers.
Why Do I Need a Healthcare Surrogate Attorney in Florida?
Everyone has the right to determine what medical care they will or will not accept. However, if you become incapacitated, you will no longer be able to make this type of decision. No matter your age or how healthy you are now, you should plan for any possible future incapacity. Doing so will be beneficial to both you and your family.
State law allows many different estate planning tools to plan for any future incapacity, including designating a health care surrogate. At Brightwell Law PLLC, we can help you:
- Successfully establish someone as your healthcare surrogate or explore other appropriate advance healthcare directives.
- We have extensive experience in drafting and administering all forms and types of estate planning documentation.
For all types of estate planning, it is best to consult a competent Pensacola estate planning attorney who specializes in these areas of the law for guidance and help in properly preparing the documents that you will need to make your end-of-life wishes known.
Our estate planning law firm is committed to helping numerous Pensacola families prepare for the future. Contact us now at Brightwell Law PLLC for advanced directives and end-of-life planning advice from our skilled Florida estate planning attorneys.
What is a Healthcare Surrogate Designation?
Naming a healthcare surrogate is one aspect of the broader category of estate planning. A health care surrogate designation is a legal document in which a healthy-minded individual appoints someone else to make all medical decisions for them and authorize all medical treatments, should they become incapacitated.
The Florida healthcare surrogate process can be complicated and there are specific Florida statutes that must be followed. When you work with our knowledgeable Florida health care surrogate attorney who knows the law, you have a higher chance of getting everything right the first time. It will save you money, time, and potential conflicts down the road.
A healthcare surrogate designation is more limited than a healthcare power of attorney and is only empowered to act regarding medical decisions, care, and treatment. The surrogate doesn’t have the authority to act until an attending physician decides the principal cannot make informed healthcare decisions.
How Do I Choose a Healthcare Surrogate in Florida?
Choosing your healthcare surrogate must be done with careful consideration because they will be responsible for making major medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to do so. Without having designated someone to act on your behalf, the court may be required to appoint someone based on the order described in the Florida health care proxy statute. A qualified Florida health care surrogate attorney can help you choose someone to make healthcare decisions for you.
Your healthcare surrogate should be someone you trust with your life. You must choose someone that can put your mind at ease, knowing your body will be in good hands if the time comes. Pick someone you are confident will fulfill your wishes and who is likely to be available when the time comes. In Florida, any competent adult over the age of 18 can be designated as a health care surrogate. Your surrogate can be:
- Spouse
- Child
- Parent
- Relative
- Friend
- An individual you choose who meets age and competency guidelines
What Are the Responsibilities of the Health Care Surrogate?
When you appoint someone as your healthcare surrogate, it is important to inform them of this designation and make them aware of the responsibilities they may be faced with. The person with the decision-making power of a surrogate involves withdrawing, withholding, or requesting life-sustaining or life-saving treatments. Since a surrogate will have a significant role in your life, having legal advice and guidance from a top-ranking Florida health care surrogate can be beneficial before making a choice.
The responsibilities of a healthcare surrogate include, but are not limited to:
- Provide informed consent on your behalf in matters of medical intervention
- Make healthcare decisions that you have made known to be your preference and desire
- Diligently consult with physicians and other health care providers regarding your medical treatment or end-of-life treatment
- Apply on your behalf for public benefits to help pay the cost of healthcare
- Manage the admittance to or transfer from health care facilities (including hospitalization, home health care, or nursing home treatment)
- Release of private medical information or medical records
What is a Healthcare Power of Attorney?
A durable health care power of attorney is an estate planning document that enables you to name a particular person to make decisions regarding your health care in case you become incapacitated and are unable to make those types of decisions. This is one of the most important estate planning tools you can establish when deciding how you want your medical decisions handled and by whom. A skilled Pensacola health care power of attorney lawyer can help you understand the benefits of creating this legal document.
Creating a Pensacola health care power of attorney requires careful consideration. It should clearly express your desires while also obeying the procedural requirements of your state. This document should state your wishes and provide instructions to the agent regarding medical treatment.
What is the Difference Between a Healthcare Surrogate Designation and Healthcare Power of Attorney?
Both the durable power of attorney and health care surrogate designation are essential components of a comprehensive estate plan. With the help of our competent Pensacola estate planning attorney, it is important to establish these legal documents because they are useful in particular incapacitation or end-of-life situations. Without such documents, your loved ones will face numerous complications in handling your needs should such a situation arise. If either position, your agent or your surrogate, has not been appointed in advance, the decision maker will be selected as per Florida law.
A healthcare surrogate is somewhat similar to a power of attorney granted to an individual. However, unlike a healthcare surrogate designation, a durable power of attorney specifically for healthcare may allow the agent to assist the principal in healthcare and medical decisions even though the principal may not completely lack capacity. Your healthcare agent will work with doctors and other healthcare providers to make sure you get the kind of medical care you wish to receive.
Call our Experienced Florida Health Care Surrogate Attorney Now!
Life is unpredictable. Therefore, everyone should have a comprehensive estate plan in place in the event of mental or physical incapacitation to safeguard their estate and protect their loved ones’ peace of mind.
The issue of medical care should a person become mentally incapacitated and their end-of-life choices are difficult subjects for many people to approach. In this case, having the legal advice and guidance of our seasoned Florida healthcare surrogate attorneys at Brightwell Law PLLC can be beneficial to make an informed decision. Specifically, we will walk you through the process so you can rest assured that you have a healthcare surrogate and healthcare power of attorney in place.
Our estate planning law firm can assist you in creating a comprehensive estate plan or updating an existing plan. We can help you draft wills, set up trusts, appoint a healthcare surrogate, establish a power of attorney, and handle other complicated estate planning matters. Our office is in Pensacola, Florida, and we serve all of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Call us now and schedule an initial consultation with our qualified Pensacola estate planning lawyers.
