What Is a Health Care Proxy?

There are many different terms used in relation to the estate planning and incapacity planning process. You may create these documents by working with a qualified estate planning attorney. As people age, their health care needs shift and may increase. By 2040, the number of Americans who are aged 65 and above will increase to 80.8 million.

Why Name a Health Care Proxy in MA

Many senior citizens deal with acute and chronic medical conditions that can land them in the hospital or in other long term care facilities immediately. A health care proxy helps to ensure that any specific medical treatment preferences you have are honored if you become unable to express them yourself.

Using an Estate Planning Lawyer in MA to Document Your Health Care Proxy

Naming your health care proxy is critical and must be done before you get sick. Depending on where you live, a health care proxy may be an option for you, but every state in the country allows you to write down your medical wishes to protect them and to appoint another person to carry these out for you if you’re unable to do so.

You will be able to name an agent, and this will avoid the process of your family having to guess about your preferences for medical treatment or ignore them entirely. A health care proxy should have attention to detail, should be trustworthy, should be committed to following through on your wishes and have excellent communication skills. Working with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney can help reduce the stress and concerns you may have around the estate planning process.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

View all posts by Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP →

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.