Living Wills & Advance Directives in Detroit
Document Your Medical Wishes Before Incapacity
Michigan families can record their wishes for future medical care and name someone they trust to act on their behalf. At Hubbard Snitchler & Parzianello, we help clients prepare advance directives and powers of attorney that address the possibility of incapacity as part of a broader estate plan.
A living will records a person’s preferences concerning medical care, but Michigan doesn’t have a standalone living will statute. The state’s primary statutory framework is a patient advocate designation under the Estates and Protected Individuals Code. This document authorizes a patient advocate to make certain healthcare decisions, while the living will provides guidance about treatment preferences. The terms aren’t interchangeable.
Healthcare directives can include living wills and healthcare proxies, a general term for documents that authorize another person to make medical choices. We help clients prepare or update these documents based on their personal, medical, and financial circumstances.
Our estate planning services include:
- Trusts
- Wills
- Durable powers of attorney
- Probate and trust administration
- Will contests
- Conservatorship and guardianship proceedings
Discuss living wills and advance directives in Detroit with our attorneys. Call (313) 546-9685 to request a free consultation.
Build Healthcare Directives into Your Estate Plan
Healthcare planning begins with identifying the medical choices that matter to you and selecting an appropriate patient advocate. Through continuous dialogue, we help you consider who should speak for you and what guidance that person should receive. You work closely with one of our attorneys throughout the process.
The proposed patient advocate must accept the role in writing before acting. Providing the completed document for review and acceptance helps confirm that the appointment is understood. Before implementation, the document also needs to become part of the patient’s medical record with the healthcare provider or facility providing care.
Healthcare directives and a durable power of attorney for finances cover different responsibilities. A healthcare directive addresses medical care and decision-making, while financial authority concerns property and financial matters. We consider these documents separately within an incapacity plan so each reflects the client’s needs rather than relying on a template.
Estate plans should be reviewed every few years and when significant circumstances change. A marriage, divorce, or move can affect whether an existing appointment still reflects your wishes. We help clients evaluate their planning documents and make appropriate revisions.
Put Your Healthcare Wishes into Clear Legal Documents
A free consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your care preferences, choice of patient advocate, and existing estate plan. We can help you consider how living wills and advance directives fit with your other planning documents.
We provide tailored legal services through direct communication and collaborative decision-making. We serve clients in Detroit, Wayne County, Oakland County, surrounding Michigan areas, and the Naples, Florida area.
Request your free consultation with Hubbard Snitchler & Parzianello by calling (313) 546-9685 or using our contact form.