Living Wills

A living will is an estate planning tool that includes your health care advance directive, detailing your wishes regarding medical decisions which should be followed in the event you are not able to make them yourself.

In 2005 a high profile living will and advanced healthcare directive dispute in the state of Florida received national attention and prompted a special session of the Florida Legislature to deal with an unfortunate, and yet an avoidable set of circumstances. This case brought to light the importance of being prepared for unforeseen health complications. While these types of decisions are never easy, it is better to be prepared in the event that you find yourself in a similar situation.

Kathy D. Sheive, Attorney at Law, is a law firm providing experienced living will attorney legal services, assisting residents in Polk, Osceola, and Orange counties and throughout Central Florida with living will and estate planning legal issues. Attorney Sheive is committed to protecting the legal rights of each and every client, while always striving to provide the highest standard of legal representation. Contact Kathy D. Sheive, Attorney at Law, by calling 407-490-0355 or by using the online submission form.

Having a Florida living will can make it clear to doctors, family members and health care providers what your wishes are, helping them make decisions regarding medical treatment in the event you are unable to do so due to mental or physical limitations. A living will may only be carried out when it has been determined and legally documented that you are mentally and physically incapacitated.

A Florida living will may also identify under which circumstances medical treatment should be suspended due to further treatment only prolonging an inevitable and impending death. The three circumstances which a doctor may suspend medical treatment are:

• When you are in a persistent vegetative state or brain dead
• When there is a terminal condition
• Or when you are in an end stage condition which may not be terminal, but has essentially become terminal due to how the condition has advanced

We urge you to address elder law and estate planning issues so that your choices are clearly defined relating to circumstances which may occur while you are living, and in the event of your passing.

If you require professional legal services regarding living will and estate planning issues, be proactive in protecting your legal rights by seeking the legal advice of an experienced Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Osceola and Polk County living will lawyer. Contact Kathy D. Sheive, Attorney at Law, by calling 407-490-0355 or by using the online submission form.