The primary purpose of a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is to appoint someone (including a back up person) to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. For example, if you were in a comma or under anesthesia and an emergency developed requiring an immediate medical decision.

The estate planning attorneys at Michael T. Chulak & Associates are so convinced of the importance of Living Wills that we will provide one at no cost to any adult who attends one of our free estate planning seminars.

While a husband or wife will be accepted by most medical providers to make decisions for their spouse when necessary, medical providers will rarely accept instructions from parents on behalf of their adult children, or from adult children on behalf of their parents. Likewise, medical providers will rarely accept instructions from siblings or domestic partners.

There is really no substitute for having a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.