Advance Health Care Directives

Do I need an Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD)?

In all cases, yes. While doctors will always defer to you in making your own health care decisions, you may lose that capacity and be unable to direct your own care. The Advance Health Care Directive lets you appoint specific persons to make these decisions for you if you are incapacitated, giving you great peace of mind. The directive also allows you to express yourself concerning whether you want to have life support continued or discontinued under certain circumstances. The Advance Health Care Directive, like a Power of Attorney is always prepared as a “companion” document to your Trust Estate Plan. Even without a Trust, you still need one to ensure all your affairs are being handled for you by someone you trust.