Comprehensive Guide to Healthcare Powers of Attorney in Hermitage, Tennessee
A healthcare power of attorney document names someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to speak for yourself. In Hermitage and across Davidson County, having this document in place helps ensure your wishes about treatment, hospitalization, life support, and comfort care are communicated and respected. Jay Johnson Law Firm assists residents with clear information about the form, appropriate choices for durable decision-making, and the coordination of the document with other estate planning tools. Preparing a healthcare power of attorney in advance reduces uncertainty during stressful medical situations for you and your loved ones.
This guide outlines what a healthcare power of attorney covers, how it differs from other advance directives, and practical steps to select an agent and record your preferences. It also explains how state rules in Tennessee shape the document’s scope and effectiveness and what to consider when combining it with a living will or advance care plan. At Jay Johnson Law Firm, we focus on helping clients in Hermitage understand how the document operates, how decisions are made under it, and how to keep it current so it reflects changing health or family circumstances over time.
Why a Healthcare Power of Attorney Matters for Hermitage Residents
A healthcare power of attorney brings clarity to medical decision-making during incapacity by designating a trusted agent who can carry out your treatment preferences. For families in Hermitage, this reduces disputes among relatives and ensures that hospital staff receive a single, authorized voice during urgent situations. The document can also speed up access to appropriate care, protect your intent about life-sustaining treatment, and help avoid court involvement. Careful drafting ensures the agent’s authority matches your comfort level, whether you want broad discretion or specific limitations on particular treatments or settings.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Healthcare Directives
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves Tennesseans with estate planning and probate matters, including healthcare powers of attorney tailored to each client’s needs. The firm takes a practical, client-focused approach to drafting documents that reflect personal values and family realities. We explain the legal implications of different choices, review how the power of attorney interacts with other advance directives, and assist with storage and distribution of signed documents. Our goal is to help Hermitage residents make informed decisions so their healthcare preferences are clear and legally recognized when they matter most.
Understanding Healthcare Powers of Attorney in Tennessee
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal document that appoints an agent to make medical decisions if you cannot make them yourself. In Tennessee, these documents are governed by state statutes that set out who can serve, how authority is granted, and any witnessing or notarization requirements. The agent’s authority may begin only when you become incapacitated or immediately upon signing, depending on the language used. It is important to understand these options, how to incorporate specific treatment preferences, and how to revoke or amend the document should your wishes change over time.
Choosing the right agent and clearly stating your values and limits ensures medical providers and family members follow your directions. The document can address preferences about life-sustaining treatment, pain management, organ donation, and other clinical decisions. It should be coordinated with your primary care physician, hospital records, and any other advance directives like a living will. Regular review and distribution of the signed document to medical providers and family reduces confusion during emergencies and helps ensure that your appointed agent can act without delay when needed.
What a Healthcare Power of Attorney Actually Does
A healthcare power of attorney legally empowers a chosen agent to make medical and healthcare decisions on your behalf when you lack capacity. The document typically outlines the agent’s authority, any specific instructions or limits, and the conditions under which the authority takes effect. It also identifies alternates in case the primary agent is unavailable. In practice, hospitals and physicians rely on the signed document to determine who may consent to procedures, withdraw or refuse treatment, and otherwise represent the patient’s healthcare interests when they are unable to speak for themselves.
Key Elements and How the Process Works
Important elements of a healthcare power of attorney include naming an agent and alternates, stating the scope of decision-making authority, indicating whether authority is immediate or conditional on incapacity, and including any specific treatment preferences or limitations. The signing process typically requires the principal’s signature and appropriate witnesses or notary, as required by Tennessee law. After execution, distributing copies to your agent, family, and medical providers and keeping a record in your health file helps the document be effective when needed and prevents delays during critical moments.
Key Terms and Glossary for Healthcare Powers of Attorney
Understanding common terms used in advance care planning helps you make informed choices. Terms such as agent, principal, incapacity, living will, and advance directive each have specific meanings that affect how decisions are made and who can act on your behalf. Clear definitions help avoid misunderstandings with medical staff and family members. This glossary covers those words and explains how state law in Tennessee frames authority and responsibilities, so you can review your documents with confidence and ensure your intentions are clearly expressed and enforceable.
Agent
An agent is the person you appoint in a healthcare power of attorney to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so. The agent should be someone you trust to follow your values and instructions and who can communicate with medical professionals and family members under stress. Selecting an agent also means choosing alternates who can serve if the primary agent is unavailable or unwilling. The agent’s authority may be broad or limited by instructions you include in the document, and they must act consistently with your known wishes and best interests.
Incapacity
Incapacity refers to the medical or cognitive condition in which a person cannot understand health information or communicate decisions about treatment. Determination of incapacity is typically made by treating physicians according to clinical standards. When incapacity is established, a healthcare power of attorney may authorize the agent to make decisions on the principal’s behalf. It is important to state in the document whether the agent’s authority begins only upon such a physician determination or immediately upon signing, depending on your preferences and circumstances.
Living Will
A living will is an advance directive that states your wishes about specific end-of-life medical treatments, such as life support, resuscitation, or tube feeding. Unlike a healthcare power of attorney, which appoints an agent to make decisions, a living will provides direct instructions to healthcare providers about your care preferences. Combining a living will with a healthcare power of attorney ensures both appointed decision-making authority and express statements of your treatment priorities and limitations, helping reduce ambiguity in urgent medical situations.
Advance Directive
An advance directive is an umbrella term for documents that state your health care preferences and designate decision-makers, including living wills and healthcare powers of attorney. These directives guide medical teams when you cannot communicate your wishes and provide legal authority for an appointed agent to act. Advance directives should be reviewed periodically and updated after major life changes or health events to ensure they reflect current preferences. Keeping copies accessible to family and medical providers helps ensure they are followed when needed.
Comparing Limited Versus Comprehensive Advance Care Planning
When planning for future medical decisions, individuals can choose a limited approach that focuses on a single document or a more comprehensive strategy that coordinates multiple directives and related estate planning instruments. A limited approach may suffice for people with straightforward preferences and reliable family agreement. A comprehensive plan integrates a healthcare power of attorney with a living will, durable powers of attorney for finances, and clear instructions for providers. Evaluating the benefits and limitations of each approach helps you select the plan that best aligns with your health, family dynamics, and peace of mind.
When a Limited Advance Care Plan May Be Enough:
Simple Family Dynamics and Clear Preferences
A limited approach may be appropriate when family relationships are straightforward and there is clear agreement about who should make medical decisions. If your treatment preferences are simple and unlikely to change, a single, well-drafted healthcare power of attorney combined with a basic living will might provide the necessary guidance. This approach minimizes paperwork and keeps instructions focused. It is still important to ensure the document meets Tennessee formalities and to share it with medical providers and the person you name to act on your behalf so everyone understands the plan.
Low Likelihood of Complex Medical Decisions
Some individuals expect a lower likelihood of serious medical interventions and prefer a concise directive that names an agent without extensive supplemental documents. In those situations, a limited plan can be efficient while still granting someone authority to act. It remains important to clearly communicate any basic treatment preferences and to choose an agent who understands your values. Periodic review ensures the document remains current and consistent with your wishes, especially if your health status or family circumstances change over time.
Why a Comprehensive Advance Care Planning Approach Can Be Beneficial:
Complex Family or Medical Situations
A comprehensive approach is often preferable when family relationships are complicated, there are potential disagreements among relatives, or medical conditions may require nuanced decision-making. Combining a healthcare power of attorney with a living will and other estate planning documents reduces ambiguity and provides multiple layers of guidance. This coordinated planning helps make intentions clear to medical providers and family members, limits the need for court involvement, and provides a consistent framework for decisions across different care settings and stages of illness.
Need for Detailed Instructions and Coordination
When you want specific direction about a range of medical treatments or coordination with financial planning, a comprehensive plan provides the clarity needed to carry out your wishes. Detailed instructions can cover preferences about life-sustaining measures, palliative care, and organ donation, while other documents can address financial authority and guardianship concerns. Coordinating these elements ensures your healthcare decisions align with your broader estate goals and reduces the chances of conflicting directives or uncertainty during emergencies.
Benefits of a Coordinated Advance Care Plan
A comprehensive approach provides clear, consistent guidance to the person you appoint and to treating clinicians, reducing ambiguity in urgent situations. It can help avoid family disputes by documenting both your chosen decision-maker and your specific treatment preferences. Coordinating healthcare directives with financial powers of attorney and estate planning documents also streamlines handling of affairs during incapacity, allowing medical and financial decisions to proceed without delay. This coordinated planning supports a dignified approach to care that reflects your values while easing the burden on loved ones.
Comprehensive planning also supports continuity of care by ensuring providers have consistent instructions across different settings, from hospitals to long-term care facilities. Having documents in place can speed access to decisions about treatment and discharge planning, and it helps healthcare teams understand your priorities for comfort, recovery, or life-prolonging interventions. Regular review and updates keep the plan aligned with changes in health and family dynamics, so your named agent and directives remain effective when circumstances evolve over time.
Reduced Family Conflict and Clear Decision Authority
A coordinated set of documents reduces the likelihood of disagreements among family members by naming an agent and stating clear preferences. This helps medical teams know who is authorized to make decisions and reduces the burden on relatives to interpret intentions during stressful moments. When roles and instructions are documented, the appointed agent can represent your wishes confidently and without delay. This clarity benefits both the individual and their loved ones by limiting emotional strain and avoiding time-consuming disputes during challenging health events.
Smoother Medical and Administrative Transitions
Comprehensive planning supports seamless transitions between care settings and streamlines communication with healthcare providers and institutions. With documents that clearly state authority and preferences, discharge planning, treatment consent, and coordination among specialists proceed more efficiently. This reduces delays in care, prevents administrative hurdles, and helps ensure that the focus remains on patient needs and comfort. Having an organized set of directives also makes it easier for the agent to access records, speak with clinicians, and follow through on the principal’s stated wishes.
Practice Areas
Top Searched Keywords
- healthcare power of attorney Hermitage
- advance directive Tennessee
- living will Hermitage TN
- estate planning healthcare agent
- medical power of attorney Davidson County
- advance care planning Hermitage
- healthcare proxy Tennessee
- Jay Johnson Law Firm healthcare POA
- Hermitage advance directives lawyer
Practical Tips for Your Healthcare Power of Attorney
Choose the right agent
Select someone who understands your values, can communicate calmly with medical staff, and is available when needed. Discuss your treatment preferences and provide written guidance so the person you name understands your priorities. Consider naming alternates in case your primary choice is unavailable, and make sure the person you select is willing to accept the responsibility. Sharing copies of the signed document with family and your medical providers helps reduce confusion during emergencies and supports prompt action when decisions are required.
Be specific about preferences
Keep documents accessible
Store signed copies where they can be easily retrieved by your agent and medical providers, and provide copies to your primary care physician and local hospital if possible. Keep a list of where originals are located and ensure designated agents know how to access the document quickly. Consider carrying a wallet card that indicates you have a healthcare power of attorney and who your agent is, and keep updated digital copies so they are available if you are traveling or receiving care outside your usual network.
Reasons to Put a Healthcare Power of Attorney in Place
A healthcare power of attorney ensures someone you trust can speak for you when you cannot, which prevents delays in treatment and reduces family conflict by designating decision authority. It also allows you to express values and treatment preferences in advance so decisions reflect your wishes rather than guesswork. For residents of Hermitage, having these documents aligns care with local medical providers and meets state requirements, providing legal clarity and practical benefits for both the individual and their loved ones during medical crises.
Advance planning supports a smoother experience across medical settings, from emergency rooms to long-term care facilities, by providing clear legal authority for decisions. It can protect your interests if complicated treatment decisions arise and helps avoid court involvement when incapacity occurs. Preparing a healthcare power of attorney ahead of time also gives you the opportunity to reflect on values and discuss them with family and your chosen agent, so they are prepared to act in accordance with your wishes if the need arises.
Common Situations That Call for a Healthcare Power of Attorney
Circumstances that commonly prompt creation of a healthcare power of attorney include serious illness, upcoming major surgery, advanced age, progressive cognitive conditions, or any situation where you anticipate periods of incapacity. Other triggers include diagnosis of chronic conditions that may alter decision-making capacity over time or life transitions that make planning sensible. In each instance, putting an agent and clear instructions in place helps ensure medical decisions are made promptly and in line with your personal values and goals for care.
Planned Major Medical Procedures
When facing major surgery or invasive procedures, having a healthcare power of attorney in place ensures someone can provide informed consent and make decisions if you are under anesthesia or otherwise unable to participate. This reduces delays in care and simplifies communication with surgical teams about post-operative treatment plans. Discussing scenarios with your chosen agent in advance prepares them to represent your preferences and helps healthcare providers follow your documented instructions without uncertainty when decisions arise in the operating room or recovery period.
Progressive Health Conditions
Conditions that may impair decision-making over time, such as neurological or degenerative illnesses, make advance planning especially important. A healthcare power of attorney ensures an appointed agent can manage care decisions as capacity changes, coordinate with specialists, and make choices aligned with your documented preferences. Regular review of the document allows updates as treatments evolve or priorities shift, helping maintain alignment between your wishes and the care you receive throughout the course of a long-term illness.
Unexpected Medical Emergencies
Unexpected events such as accidents or sudden medical emergencies can render you temporarily unable to communicate your wishes. A healthcare power of attorney allows your agent to consent to urgent treatments and coordinate with emergency personnel and hospital staff. Having the document in place before an emergency reduces administrative delays and provides clear authority for decisions, helping medical teams act quickly and in accordance with your priorities while family members focus on support rather than decision-making disputes.
Healthcare Power of Attorney Services in Hermitage
Jay Johnson Law Firm assists residents of Hermitage and Davidson County with preparing healthcare powers of attorney tailored to individual needs and state law requirements. We guide clients through selecting an appropriate agent, drafting clear instructions about medical treatment preferences, and coordinating documents with other advance directives. The firm can also advise on distribution of signed copies and updates following life events. Our goal is to help clients have confidence that their medical wishes will be respected and that decision-making authority is clearly established when needed.
Why Work with Jay Johnson Law Firm for Your Healthcare Directive
Working with a law firm helps ensure your healthcare power of attorney is drafted in a way that meets Tennessee legal requirements and reflects your personal preferences. Jay Johnson Law Firm provides careful review of options for agent authority, immediate versus conditional activation, and language that coordinates with other advance directives. We emphasize clarity so your agent, family, and medical providers understand the scope of decision-making authority and the treatment priorities you want honored.
The firm also advises on practical considerations such as witnessing, notarization, storage, and distribution of signed documents to ensure they are effective when needed. We help clients think through scenarios and draft instructions that reduce ambiguity while respecting personal values. Preparing these documents in advance gives peace of mind and helps family members avoid difficult debates during crises by providing a legally recognized framework for decisions.
Finally, Jay Johnson Law Firm supports clients with updates and reviews as health or family circumstances change, ensuring documents remain current. We explain how the healthcare power of attorney interacts with hospital policies, living wills, and other estate planning tools so your plan is cohesive. For residents of Hermitage and greater Davidson County, having these documents in order helps preserve autonomy and provides a practical roadmap for trusted decision-makers to follow.
Ready to Prepare Your Healthcare Power of Attorney? Contact Us Today
How We Prepare Your Healthcare Power of Attorney
Our process begins with a conversation to understand your health, family situation, and goals for care. We explain available options and help you choose the agent and language that aligns with your values. After drafting the document, we review it with you, arrange witnessing or notarization as required by Tennessee law, and provide guidance on distributing copies to your agent, family, and medical providers. We also offer periodic reviews to keep documents current as circumstances change over time.
Step One: Planning and Agent Selection
We start by discussing your wishes and identifying an appropriate agent to act on your behalf. That conversation explores scenarios you wish to provide direction for and whether authority should be immediate or conditional on incapacity. We also discuss alternates, communication preferences, and any limits you want to impose. This planning stage ensures the final document reflects your priorities and names someone who is prepared to carry out your directions.
Assessing Treatment Preferences
During the initial meeting we explore your values regarding life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and quality-of-life considerations. These discussions guide the language used in the document so your chosen agent and medical providers understand your priorities. We also consider how your preferences interact with specific medical scenarios and make recommendations for clear wording that reduces ambiguity while remaining flexible enough to address unforeseen circumstances.
Selecting and Preparing Your Agent
We help you choose an agent who is willing and able to act, discuss how to prepare them for the role, and recommend naming alternates. Preparing the agent includes reviewing the document together, discussing likely scenarios, and ensuring they know where to find signed copies. This preparation helps the agent respond confidently and reduces delays when medical decisions are required, improving the chances that your wishes are followed.
Step Two: Drafting and Execution
After planning, we draft the healthcare power of attorney with clear language that aligns with Tennessee legal requirements and your stated preferences. The firm ensures the document includes the necessary formalities, such as appropriate witnessing or notarization if required, and that it names alternates and any limits on authority. We review the draft with you to confirm it accurately reflects your intentions before finalizing and executing the document in a way that maximizes its enforceability and practical effectiveness.
Document Review and Revision
We carefully review the drafted document with you to confirm clarity and completeness. This review includes ensuring the agent’s authority is described in the manner you intend and that medical preferences are stated in accessible language. If any revisions are needed to better reflect your wishes or to comply with legal standards, we make those adjustments before execution. This step reduces the potential for misunderstandings when the document is relied upon during medical care.
Execution and Formalities
Once the document is finalized, we guide you through the execution process, including arranging witnesses or notarization as required by state law. We recommend specific steps to make the document readily available to your agent and medical providers, such as providing copies to your physician and keeping an accessible original. Proper execution ensures the document will be accepted by hospitals and clinics when immediate decisions are necessary.
Step Three: Distribution and Ongoing Maintenance
After execution, we assist in distributing copies to the person you named as agent, family members if appropriate, and your primary care physician or local hospital. We also recommend storing an accessible original and keeping a record of where copies are held. Periodic reviews and updates are important to ensure the document reflects any changes in health, family relationships, or treatment preferences, and we offer follow-up consultations for revisions whenever necessary.
Sharing Documents with Providers
Providing signed copies to your healthcare providers reduces confusion and speeds decisions during emergencies. We advise clients on the best practices for sharing documents with hospitals, clinics, and specialists, including adding copies to electronic medical records where possible. Having providers aware of your directives ensures they are followed and helps your agent assert authority when needed for consent and care coordination.
Regular Review and Updates
Life events, changes in health, or family developments may prompt updates to your healthcare power of attorney. We recommend periodic review, especially after major medical diagnoses, changes in relationships, or moves to different care settings. Our firm can assist with amendments or re-execution to ensure documents remain current and legally effective, helping maintain alignment between your wishes and the care you receive over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Powers of Attorney
What is a healthcare power of attorney and why do I need one in Hermitage?
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal document that appoints an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf when you lack capacity. In Hermitage, having this document ensures a named person can speak for you with doctors and hospitals, making decisions consistent with your values. It reduces uncertainty, avoids delays in treatment, and helps ensure your preferences are followed during stressful medical situations. This document is particularly valuable when sudden illness or injury prevents you from communicating directly with care teams.Preparing a healthcare power of attorney also allows you to outline specific treatment preferences and name alternates if your primary choice is unavailable. Discussing your wishes with your chosen agent and distributing signed copies to medical providers improves the document’s effectiveness. Periodic reviews keep the directive aligned with changing health and family circumstances, so your decisions remain current and actionable when they are needed most.
How do I choose the right person to be my healthcare agent?
Choose someone who understands your values, communicates well with medical professionals, and can handle the responsibility during stressful times. The person should be willing to act on your behalf and be available when needed, even if that means traveling to a facility to speak with clinicians. Consider whether your choice can remain impartial and respectful of your wishes when family members disagree or when difficult end-of-life decisions arise.It is also wise to name one or two alternates in case the primary agent is unavailable, and to have candid conversations with those individuals about your treatment preferences. Preparing your agent by sharing written instructions and medical history supports better decision-making. Selecting an agent who can coordinate with healthcare teams, understand clinical information, and advocate clearly on your behalf helps ensure your wishes are respected.
What should I include in my healthcare power of attorney document?
Your healthcare power of attorney should identify the agent and alternates, specify whether the agent’s authority begins immediately or only upon incapacity, and state any limits on decision-making authority. Consider including preferences about life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, artificial nutrition and hydration, comfort-focused care, and organ donation. Clear and specific language reduces ambiguity and helps your agent and healthcare providers act according to your wishes in different medical scenarios.It is also useful to provide contact information for family members, your primary care physician, and any specialists, along with a brief statement of your core values regarding quality of life and acceptable treatments. Attaching a living will or additional instructions can further clarify your intent. Proper execution with witnesses or notarization, and distribution of copies to your agent and medical providers, maximizes the document’s practical value.
Does Tennessee require witnesses or notarization for a healthcare power of attorney?
Tennessee law sets formal requirements for advance directives, which may include witnessing or notarization depending on the specific document and circumstances. Ensuring that your healthcare power of attorney complies with state formalities helps make it enforceable by hospitals and clinics. Proper execution reduces the risk that a facility will question the document’s validity when decisions must be made quickly.Working with a law firm or reviewing state guidance helps ensure all signature and witness requirements are met. After execution, providing copies to your medical providers and the person you have named prevents unnecessary delays. Periodic review also ensures continued compliance with any updates in state procedures or institutional policies.
Can I limit the authority of my healthcare agent?
Yes, you can limit the authority granted to your healthcare agent by including specific instructions or restrictions within the document. For example, you may permit the agent to make decisions about routine treatments but limit authority over life-sustaining interventions, or you might outline particular preferences for pain management or palliative care. Clear limits help your agent and medical providers understand the boundaries of decision-making authority and reduce misinterpretation.Be mindful that overly restrictive language can create challenges in urgent clinical settings, so it is important to balance specificity with flexibility for unforeseen circumstances. Discuss your limits with the person you name so they are prepared to follow your directions and can advocate effectively for your wishes with healthcare teams.
How does a healthcare power of attorney differ from a living will?
A healthcare power of attorney appoints an agent to make decisions on your behalf, while a living will sets out your specific wishes about certain medical treatments, especially near the end of life. The two documents serve complementary roles: one names who will decide, the other tells decision-makers what you want. Using both tools together provides both a decision-maker and clear guidance about treatment preferences, reducing ambiguity when difficult choices arise.Combining these documents ensures that your agent has authority and a framework to follow, which can make medical decisions more consistent with your values. It also helps healthcare professionals interpret your wishes quickly and reduces the likelihood of disputes among family members during critical moments.
What happens if I become incapacitated without a healthcare power of attorney?
If you become incapacitated without a healthcare power of attorney, medical professionals typically turn to family members for guidance, but there may be disagreement about who should decide or what treatment to provide. In some cases, hospital ethics committees or courts may become involved to determine decision-making authority. This uncertainty can delay care and increase stress for family members trying to represent your wishes without clear authorization.Having a signed healthcare power of attorney prevents these challenges by naming an agent and documenting your preferences. It gives medical teams a single authorized contact who can consent to or refuse treatments consistent with your values, reducing conflict and avoiding the need for court-appointed guardianship or other interventions.
How often should I review or update my healthcare documents?
Review your healthcare directives regularly, especially after major health events, family changes, or life transitions such as marriage, divorce, or the death of a named agent. A good rule is to review documents every few years or whenever your medical condition or personal priorities change. Regular review ensures that the person you named remains willing and able to serve and that your instructions still reflect your current values.Updates may require amending or re-executing documents to meet current legal formalities. Keeping copies of the most recent versions with your medical record, and notifying your agent and family of any changes, helps ensure the correct documents are available when needed and that your wishes continue to be followed.
Can I revoke or change my healthcare power of attorney after signing?
You can revoke or change your healthcare power of attorney at any time while you have capacity. Revocation typically involves signing a new document that supersedes the old one or providing a written revocation to your agent, healthcare providers, and family. It is important to communicate changes clearly and retrieve or destroy prior copies when possible to avoid confusion about which document governs decisions.When making changes, follow Tennessee legal requirements for execution and consider notifying your agent, alternates, and medical providers to ensure they are aware of the update. Consulting with a law firm can help ensure the revocation or amendment is handled in a way that preserves clarity and enforceability.
How can Jay Johnson Law Firm help me prepare and manage my healthcare directives?
Jay Johnson Law Firm helps clients in Hermitage prepare healthcare powers of attorney by guiding them through agent selection, drafting clear and enforceable language, and ensuring the document meets Tennessee execution requirements. The firm provides practical advice on how to coordinate the directive with other estate planning documents and how to distribute signed copies to medical providers and family members for effective use during medical events.The firm also offers follow-up reviews to update documents after health or family changes and assists with storage and record-keeping recommendations. By helping clients document their wishes and prepare agents to act, the firm seeks to reduce uncertainty and make sure healthcare decisions reflect the individual’s values when they cannot speak for themselves.