What an estate plan should consist of?

• A Last Will and Testament
• A Living Will
• A Durable Power of Attorney
• A Health Care Proxy

What is a Will?

A written document specifying how you want your property to be disposed of after your death. A will must be signed by you and two witnesses. What is a Living Will? It lists the interventions the patient would request, accept or reject at the end of life. Most people use living wills to refuse life-sustaining treatment when the prognosis for improvement or recovery is hopeless and the ability to relate to others is diminished or not possible. The goal of the most usual type of living will is to ensure that invasive aggressive, and life sustaining treatments will not be used if they merely prolong dying.

What about a Durable Power of Attorney?

It takes effect the moment the document is executed and continues if the principal becomes disabled or incapacitated. The grant of authority terminates at the time of the principal’s death, but can be revoked at my time during capacity. If this does not exist, a family must petition the court in a guardianship action.

What is a Health Care Proxy?

Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care, it is a legal document that allows the patient to appoint a person to make health care decisions should the patient become temporarily or permanently incapacitated or be declared legally incompetent.

DNR Order

This means that cardiopulmonary resuscitation will not be performed if the patient’s conditions deteriorates.