Queen Creek Medical Directives Lawyer

Queen Creek Medical Directives Attorney

While it’s not pleasant to dwell on the possibility of becoming ill or incapacitated, healthcare directives are important estate planning documents. They can provide peace of mind and comfort for you and your family. Speak with a qualified Queen Creek medical directives lawyer about establishing these legal measures that express your healthcare wishes and preferences.

At CDM Law Firm, an affiliate of Elysium Legal, our legal team understands how sensitive and significant estate planning issues can be, especially those involving medical care or life-saving treatment. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the process and ensure all questions are answered.

Advance Healthcare Directives in Queen Creek, AZ

Medical directives are important estate planning documents that allow you to explicitly state what your healthcare preferences are in the event you become incapacitated. In one recent survey, 59 percent of adults aged 50-80 said they spoke to someone in their personal life about what medical care they want or wouldn’t want in the event they become seriously ill.

Despite the significance of these directives, there are still plenty of people who haven’t taken the steps to acquire or maintain their healthcare directives. Approximately 46 percent of older adults reported having completed at least one advance directive legal document. Of those individuals, 80 percent had completed at least one document more than a year ago.

Critical estate planning issues are handled by the Superior Court system in Arizona. For estate matters in the city of Queen Creek, your case will most likely be processed by the Maricopa County Superior Court. More specifically, the County Superior Court’s Southeast Facility would handle any estate planning matters. The Southeast Judicial District courthouse is located at 222 E Javelina Ave in Mesa, AZ 85210.

Types of Medical Directives Our Arizona Firm Handles

Healthcare directives are one of the most critical estate planning documents a person can have. Medical directives not only ensure your wishes will be honored should you suddenly fall ill or become incapacitated; these directives provide your loved ones with a sense of security and comfort. These are some of the main medical estate planning documents and directives our team at CDM Law Firm handles regularly:

• Medical durable power of attorney: A healthcare power of attorney is a legal tool that allows you to designate someone you trust to hold power over your medical decisions in the event you become physically or mentally incapacitated. This document grants another person the authority to make important health decisions on your behalf and is typically used alongside an advance medical directive.
• Advance healthcare directive: Medical directives are legal documents where an individual can list their wishes or instructions as far as preferences regarding healthcare or medical treatments. It’s beneficial to have a medical directive in place should you ever be unable to make your own decisions or effectively express opinions.
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders: A person may choose to include a “do not resuscitate” order as part of their medical directive. This measure means the person explicitly does not want CPR or other life-saving treatment if they stop breathing or their heart stops.
• Living wills: A living will is a document where you can outline your preferences for life-sustaining treatment in case you become permanently unconscious or enter a terminal condition. Living wills address matters such as resuscitation, medical ventilation, and life support parameters.
• Organ and tissue donation preferences: This medical directive specifies whether you agree for your organs or tissues to be donated to someone in need after you pass away.
• Wishes for pain management: Pain management directives give a person the ability to express how they would like healthcare providers to address their physical pain if they fall seriously ill or are injured.

FAQs

What Does a Medical Directive Do in Arizona?

Arizona medical directives are an important type of estate planning legal document that allows an individual to specify healthcare preferences in the event they become incapacitated. In case you suddenly become ill, injured, or otherwise unable to express your wishes, medical directives make sure your choices are acknowledged and honored.

Medical directives can also benefit your loved ones by providing a guide regarding serious health issues, preventing uncertainty. Examples of medical directives include healthcare power of attorney and living wills.

Who Makes Medical Decisions if There Is No Power of Attorney?

In Arizona, if a person becomes incapacitated without having a medical directive in place, the responsibility to make serious healthcare decisions typically falls on the person’s immediate family members. This may include an individual’s spouse, parents, or children.

Circumstances can easily become overwhelming without a directive. If the incapacitated person does not have any relatives or loved ones suited to make such decisions, state courts may appoint a legal guardian to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the person.

Does an Advance Directive Need to Be Notarized in Arizona?

In Arizona, there are currently no legal requirements that state advance directives need to be notarized in order to be considered valid. However, the person to whom the estate planning documents belong is required to sign each document for them to be legally enforceable. The signing must be done in the presence of another adult who is unrelated to the person and is not an heir to the estate. You can also opt to have any advance directives notarized.

What Are the Two Types of Legal Directives in Arizona?

In Arizona, the two main forms of legal directives a person can obtain by working with a medical directives lawyer are a living will and a durable power of attorney. These directives are commonly used together.

A living will is a document where you can outline your wishes regarding life-support treatment, end-of-life care, and other important decisions. A medical durable power of attorney is a legal measure that designates someone you trust to make serious healthcare decisions on your behalf.

Consult With a Medical Directives Lawyer

Feel confident about your family’s future by entrusting the qualified and experienced team at CDM Law Firm with your estate plan concerns. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation with a dedicated medical directives lawyer.