A Clear Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills are written instructions that explain your medical wishes if you cannot speak for yourself. These documents allow you to name someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf and to outline preferences for life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and other medical care. For residents of Brighton and the surrounding areas, creating clear directives reduces uncertainty for family members and medical teams. Preparing these documents in advance ensures that your values and wishes guide care during serious illness or incapacity and eases the decision-making burden on loved ones during stressful times.
Creating an advance healthcare directive and a living will also provides an opportunity to discuss personal priorities with family and the person you name as your decision-maker. These conversations foster better understanding about what types of treatment you would accept or refuse, and under what circumstances. When preferences are documented and discussed ahead of time, healthcare providers and family members can act with greater confidence that choices reflect your wishes. Having properly drafted documents tailored to Tennessee law ensures they will be recognized by hospitals and caregivers both locally and when traveling.
Why Advance Directives and Living Wills Matter for Brighton Residents
Advance directives and living wills protect your voice when you cannot speak for yourself and give clear instructions about medical care preferences. These documents can prevent family disagreement, reduce stress during medical crises, and help ensure medical decisions align with your personal values. For those in Brighton, having these plans in place also simplifies interactions with hospitals and long-term care providers, since staff can follow written directives. Beyond immediate medical choices, directives can address preferences about pain control, resuscitation, and other interventions, supporting dignity and respect during serious illness.
How Jay Johnson Law Firm Supports Advance Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm assists Brighton residents in preparing advance healthcare directives and living wills that reflect their priorities and meet Tennessee legal requirements. The firm focuses on clear communication, careful document drafting, and helping clients understand the practical implications of their choices. Services include naming a healthcare decision-maker through a healthcare power of attorney, drafting living wills that state end-of-life preferences, and reviewing existing documents to confirm they remain current. The goal is to provide straightforward guidance so clients feel confident their medical wishes will be honored.
Understanding Advance Directives and Living Wills in Tennessee
Advance directives and living wills are related but distinct documents used to communicate healthcare preferences. An advance directive typically includes a healthcare power of attorney that designates a person to make medical decisions on your behalf, while a living will records your wishes about specific medical treatments under certain circumstances. Both instruments help medical providers and family members make choices consistent with your values. In Tennessee, there are statutory rules about signing and witnessing these documents, and it is important to follow those rules so the documents are valid and enforceable when needed.
Drafting these documents involves considering scenarios such as prolonged unconsciousness, terminal illness, or conditions with no reasonable expectation of recovery. Some people prefer general statements about comfort and quality of life, while others want more detail about interventions like mechanical ventilation or tube feeding. Discussing options with loved ones and healthcare professionals helps refine your directions. The firm helps clients balance clarity and flexibility so the documents guide care while allowing for medical judgment when appropriate.
What an Advance Healthcare Directive and Living Will Actually Do
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that explains your wishes for medical treatment and names someone to make decisions if you are unable. A living will is a type of directive that focuses specifically on the kinds of life-sustaining treatment you would accept or refuse if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. Together, they ensure medical teams and family members have direction about treatment, pain management, and end-of-life care. These tools are intended to preserve your autonomy over medical choices and to minimize confusion when urgent decisions are required.
Core Components and Steps to Create Directives
Key elements typically include naming a healthcare agent, stating specific treatment preferences, outlining goals for quality of life, and providing guidance for unforeseen scenarios. Creating these documents normally begins with an in-depth discussion about values and medical priorities, followed by drafting language that reflects those choices. The signing process must follow Tennessee rules for witnesses or notarization. After execution, the documents should be shared with your appointed decision maker, family, primary care doctor, and any facility where you receive care to ensure they are accessible when needed.
Terms to Know When Planning Advance Healthcare Directives
Understanding common terms helps when preparing advance directives and living wills. Familiarity with words like healthcare agent, surrogate decision-maker, durable power of attorney for healthcare, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation helps you make informed choices. Knowing these definitions also eases conversations with loved ones and medical personnel. The firm provides plain-language explanations of legal terms and assists in choosing the right language so your documents are understandable and effective in real-life clinical situations.
Healthcare Agent (Medical Decision-Maker)
A healthcare agent, sometimes called a medical decision-maker, is the person you designate to make healthcare choices on your behalf should you be unable to decide or communicate. This person should be someone who understands your values and can communicate calmly with medical professionals and family members. It is important to discuss your wishes with the person you name so they are prepared to represent your preferences. The document naming a healthcare agent should follow Tennessee formalities to ensure it is legally effective.
Living Will
A living will is a written statement outlining your preferences for life-sustaining treatment and other medical care in certain serious situations, such as terminal illness or persistent vegetative state. It focuses on specific interventions you would want or decline, like artificial nutrition, hydration, or respiratory support, under defined conditions. A well-crafted living will provides clarity to healthcare providers and loved ones, helping them carry out your wishes while minimizing uncertainty during emotionally challenging moments.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare is a document that appoints an individual to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated. Unlike financial powers of attorney, this document applies specifically to healthcare decisions. It remains effective even if you lose decision-making capacity, provided it is properly signed under Tennessee law. Choosing a trustworthy and communicative agent is important because that person will need to interpret your wishes and balance them with clinical recommendations.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a medical instruction that prevents health care providers from performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient’s heart stops or breathing ceases. DNR orders are issued by physicians based on informed discussions with patients or their legally appointed decision-makers. They are distinct from advance directives but complement them by providing direction for emergency care. Having a DNR documented in your medical record and discussed with your healthcare agent reduces confusion in urgent situations.
Comparing Limited and Comprehensive Healthcare Planning Options
When planning for healthcare decisions, some people choose limited documents that address only a few specific situations, while others opt for comprehensive directives that cover a wider range of medical circumstances. Limited approaches can be quicker and simpler, focusing on the most likely scenarios, whereas comprehensive plans offer broader guidance for diverse outcomes. Selecting the right approach depends on personal preferences, family dynamics, and medical history. The firm helps clients evaluate which level of detail best aligns with their goals and offers drafting that balances clarity and flexibility.
When a Focused Advance Directive May Be Appropriate:
Clear Preferences for a Few Specific Treatments
A limited approach may be appropriate when an individual has clear, unchanging preferences about a small number of interventions, such as resuscitation or mechanical ventilation. If a person is certain they would or would not want specific life-sustaining measures, a concise document can communicate those choices without unnecessary detail. This can be helpful for individuals who prefer simplicity and who have had thorough conversations with their potential healthcare agent so that the agent knows how to act when those limited circumstances arise.
Low Medical Complexity and Stable Health Outlook
For those in generally good health with no complex medical conditions, a shorter directive can provide sufficient guidance for foreseeable emergencies. When the medical outlook is stable and there are no anticipated chronic or terminal conditions, a limited directive outlining a few key preferences may meet current needs. Even so, it remains important to review the document periodically, since health status or personal views can change over time, and updating the directive ensures continued alignment with your wishes.
Why a Comprehensive Approach May Be Better for Some Clients:
Complex Medical Conditions or Multiple Contingencies
A comprehensive directive is often advisable for individuals with chronic illnesses, complex medical histories, or a desire to address a wide array of potential scenarios. These documents can include detailed instructions for various stages of illness, preferences about comfort care, and specific guidance for ambiguous situations. A thorough plan helps ensure that medical teams and decision-makers have guidance across many situations, reducing uncertainty when new or unexpected health events occur. Drafting such a plan benefits from careful discussion and tailored language.
Family Dynamics That May Lead to Disagreement
When family relationships are complex or there is potential for disagreement among loved ones, a comprehensive written directive establishes a clear baseline for decision-making and helps prevent disputes. Detailed documentation of your wishes and the rationale behind them can guide conversations and reduce conflict during emotional times. In such cases, a carefully drafted plan paired with family discussions and documentation can provide peace of mind, ensuring that medical care reflects your intentions rather than being shaped by disagreement.
Advantages of Comprehensive Advance Healthcare Planning
A comprehensive advance directive and living will offer clarity for a wide range of medical situations, making it easier for your healthcare agent and medical team to follow your intentions. Such documents can address various stages of serious illness, preferences about life-sustaining treatments, and decisions about comfort-focused care. This level of detail reduces uncertainty for loved ones and healthcare providers, streamlines decision-making under pressure, and supports continuity of care in transfers between hospitals or long-term care facilities.
Comprehensive planning also allows you to express nuanced values about quality of life and acceptable outcomes, which can be useful when clinical circumstances are complex. Having thorough documentation can minimize conflicting interpretations and helps ensure choices align with your personal priorities. The process of creating a comprehensive plan encourages meaningful conversations with family and the designated decision-maker, so everyone understands what matters most to you and how to carry out your wishes when the time comes.
Greater Clarity and Consistency in Medical Decision-Making
A comprehensive directive provides tangible guidance to medical personnel and family members, reducing ambiguity about preferred treatments and acceptable outcomes. Consistent, written instructions help align care decisions across settings and among different providers. This clarity is especially valuable during transitions in care, such as hospital discharge or transfer to a rehabilitation or long-term care facility, ensuring your wishes remain central to treatment planning and minimizing the need for repeated discussions during stressful times.
Reduced Emotional Burden for Loved Ones
When your preferences are clearly documented, your family and appointed decision-maker are spared the heavy burden of guessing what you would want in difficult circumstances. Written directives can prevent disagreements and relieve family members from second-guessing their choices. This emotional relief allows loved ones to focus on providing support rather than negotiating medical decisions. Thoughtful documentation also helps preserve important relationships by removing uncertainty from emotionally charged moments.
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Practical Tips for Advance Healthcare Planning
Talk Early and Often with Your Decision-Maker
Discussing your medical values and preferences well before a crisis is one of the most effective steps you can take. Share examples of what matters to you regarding quality of life, acceptable outcomes, and treatments you would or would not want. Clear conversations help the person you name as your decision-maker feel comfortable representing your wishes and reduce the chance of surprises. Keeping these discussions updated over time ensures your appointed decision-maker understands any changes in your priorities or health status.
Put Documents Where They Are Accessible
Review and Update Documents Periodically
Life circumstances and medical advances can change your preferences, so periodically review your directives to ensure they remain aligned with your values. Updates may be appropriate after major health events, changes in family relationships, or shifts in personal priorities. When revising documents, follow Tennessee formalities for signing and witnessing so the new versions are legally valid. Keeping directives current ensures they continue to provide meaningful guidance for your decision-maker and healthcare providers.
Why Brighton Residents Should Consider Advance Healthcare Planning
Advance healthcare planning ensures your voice guides medical decisions if you are unable to speak, which can be vital during severe illness or sudden incapacity. Creating a healthcare directive and living will reduces uncertainty for your family and appointed decision-maker, and helps medical providers understand your treatment preferences. For those who value control over future medical care, preparing these documents is a practical way to document wishes about life-sustaining measures, comfort care, and other important considerations in a legally recognized format.
Planning ahead can also simplify transitions between care settings, reduce conflict among family members, and ensure your values are central to treatment decisions. For Brighton residents who travel or receive care in different facilities, consistent, well-drafted directives help ensure continuity. Legal review of documents tailored to Tennessee rules further strengthens their effectiveness and acceptance. Taking steps now provides peace of mind and lessens the emotional burden on loved ones during medical emergencies.
Typical Situations Where Advance Directives Become Important
Advance directives and living wills become important in scenarios such as sudden accidents that cause unconsciousness, progressive illnesses that impair decision-making, or when facing surgery with known risks. They are also useful for older adults planning for potential decline in capacity and for anyone with chronic conditions that could lead to acute crises. In such situations, having clearly documented preferences helps doctors and family members make timely decisions aligned with your wishes, avoiding uncertainty about treatment and reducing conflict among loved ones.
Sudden Incapacity Due to Accident or Stroke
When a sudden medical event like a traumatic injury or stroke leaves an individual unable to communicate, an advance directive provides immediate guidance for life-sustaining treatment and decision-making. Without documented instructions, loved ones and medical teams may face uncertainty about whether to proceed with aggressive interventions. A clear directive enables appointed decision-makers to act in accordance with the patient’s previously expressed preferences, reducing delays in care and helping align emergency treatment with the individual’s values.
Progressive Neurological or Terminal Illness
In the context of progressive conditions such as advanced neurological disease or terminal illness, advance directives and living wills allow patients to state their wishes for the stages of disease progression. These documents can specify preferences for feeding tubes, ventilation, and hospice or palliative care, providing guidance long before decisions become urgent. Clear directives support care that honors the patient’s goals for comfort, dignity, and quality of life throughout the course of illness.
Complex Family Situations or Disagreements
When family dynamics are complicated or there is risk of disagreement over medical choices, having a written directive mitigates conflict by clarifying the patient’s intentions. A directive naming a decision-maker and stating treatment preferences sets an objective standard for decision-making. This can prevent prolonged disputes, reduce emotional stress, and enable healthcare teams to implement care consistent with the patient’s wishes rather than being caught between competing family opinions.
Local Support for Advance Healthcare Planning in Brighton
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves Brighton and nearby communities, helping residents create advance healthcare directives and living wills that are understandable, legally valid in Tennessee, and practical for use in medical settings. The firm emphasizes clear communication with clients, assisting with drafting, explaining legal formalities, and ensuring the documents reflect personal priorities. Clients receive guidance on naming a trusted healthcare agent and on how to share documents with medical providers, ultimately helping families face difficult decisions with greater confidence.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Your Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm offers approachable guidance for residents who want to document medical preferences and appoint a healthcare decision-maker. The firm focuses on listening to your goals, explaining options in plain language, and drafting documents that align with Tennessee law. Clients benefit from assistance in tailoring directives to personal values while ensuring clarity for medical personnel and loved ones. The process is designed to be straightforward and supportive, helping individuals understand the practical implications of each choice.
The firm also helps clients review and update existing directives to reflect current wishes and circumstances. This service includes checking document validity under Tennessee rules and advising on distribution to healthcare providers and agents. Periodic review is recommended to ensure directives remain aligned with changing health, family dynamics, or personal preferences. By maintaining clear and current documentation, clients reduce the risk of confusion or disputes when decisions are needed.
Clients can expect assistance with signing and witnessing requirements, guidance on how to communicate preferences to those who will act on them, and practical advice about storing and sharing documents. The firm helps clients create directives that are both meaningful and usable in clinical settings, and supports families in understanding how to implement the instructions when the time comes. This practical approach ensures medical wishes are clearly known and can be followed by caregivers.
Get Started with Advance Healthcare Planning Today
How We Prepare Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Our process begins with a detailed conversation about your medical values, personal priorities, and the kinds of scenarios you want to address. From there we draft documents tailored to your preferences and explain Tennessee signing and witnessing requirements. After executing the documents, we advise on how to distribute copies and record the directives with your medical providers. The goal is to deliver clear, practical documents that your healthcare agent and providers can use confidently when difficult decisions arise.
Initial Consultation and Goals Discussion
The first step involves an in-depth meeting to discuss your wishes, any medical considerations, and whom you trust to make decisions on your behalf. During this consultation we explore preferences about life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and other quality-of-life issues. We also review family dynamics and travel or care plans that may affect how documents should be structured. This discussion forms the foundation for drafting the directive and ensures the resulting documents reflect your values.
Assessing Values and Treatment Preferences
We guide clients through questions that clarify what matters most in medical decision-making, such as prioritizing comfort, independence, or life extension in certain conditions. These conversations help translate personal values into practical instructions that can be followed by healthcare agents and providers. The firm provides examples and plain-language explanations so clients can make informed choices about interventions, thresholds for treatment, and preferences for palliative care when appropriate.
Selecting and Preparing a Healthcare Agent
Choosing a trusted healthcare agent is central to effective planning. We help clients identify a person who is willing, available, and able to communicate with medical teams and represent the client’s wishes. We also advise on alternate agents in case the primary designee is unavailable. Preparing the named agent involves detailed conversations so they understand the client’s priorities, expected responsibilities, and how to access and present the signed documents when decisions are needed.
Drafting and Legal Review
After clarifying goals, we draft the advance healthcare directive and living will with precise language that reflects your wishes and meets Tennessee legal standards. The drafted documents are reviewed with you to confirm accuracy and to ensure there is no ambiguity in the instructions. This stage includes discussion of how specific or flexible you want the language to be, and we make adjustments to strike the appropriate balance between clear guidance and practical application in varied medical contexts.
Tailoring Language for Clarity and Practical Use
Careful wording is important so that healthcare providers can interpret and implement your wishes. We focus on creating statements that are unambiguous yet practical for clinicians to apply. This may include defining terms or listing specific interventions you would accept or decline. The aim is to ensure your documented preferences guide treatment decisions without creating confusion or unnecessary restrictions that could hamper appropriate care.
Ensuring Formalities and Validity
Documents must meet Tennessee requirements for signing and witnessing to be effective. We explain the required formalities and arrange for proper execution so the directives will be recognized by hospitals and other care providers. This step also includes preparing any additional forms such as DNR documentation when appropriate, and advising on how to file or store copies so they are accessible to medical teams when needed.
Execution, Distribution, and Ongoing Review
Once documents are signed, the final stage is distributing copies to your healthcare agent, primary care physician, and family members, and advising on storing a copy with your medical records. We also recommend periodic reviews to confirm the documents still reflect your wishes. If circumstances change—such as a major health event or a change in trusted agents—we assist with updating the directives and ensuring the new versions are properly executed and disseminated.
Sharing Documents with Providers and Family
Making sure your signed directives are in the right hands is essential for effectiveness. We provide guidance on giving copies to hospitals, clinics, and your primary physician, and on how to discuss the contents with your healthcare agent and relatives. Clear communication helps ensure that your wishes are known and reduces the likelihood of delays or conflicts during a medical crisis.
Periodic Updates and Maintaining Relevance
Life changes and medical developments can affect your preferences, so periodic review of advance directives is important. We encourage clients to revisit their documents after significant events such as health changes, family updates, or relocation. When updates are needed, we assist with revising and re-executing documents, ensuring all prior versions are superseded and new copies are distributed to relevant parties to prevent confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Healthcare Directives
What is the difference between an advance healthcare directive and a living will?
An advance healthcare directive is a broad term that often includes a document appointing a healthcare agent to make decisions for you and may include a living will component that sets out specific treatment preferences. The directive gives authority to an appointed person to act on your behalf and can include instructions about general goals of care. A living will typically focuses on decisions about life-sustaining treatment in defined situations such as terminal illness or persistent unconsciousness, providing more specific guidance.Both documents serve related but distinct roles. The appointed agent named in an advance directive can interpret general wishes and make decisions for situations not explicitly covered in the living will. Having both documents provides both an appointed decision-maker and concrete statements about particular interventions, which together help ensure that medical care aligns with your values and reduces ambiguity for healthcare providers and family members.
How do I choose the right person to make healthcare decisions for me?
Choosing a healthcare agent involves selecting someone who knows you well, communicates effectively, and is willing to act on your behalf under stress. Think about availability, closeness, and an ability to speak with doctors and family members calmly. It is also wise to choose an alternate agent in case the primary designee is unavailable or unable to serve. A good agent should respect your wishes, be able to access medical records, and follow the directives you have left.Before naming someone, have a detailed discussion about your values and preferences so they understand your priorities. Make sure they are comfortable making potentially difficult decisions and are willing to accept the responsibility. Documenting who you chose and informing family members reduces confusion, and giving your agent copies of the signed directive ensures they can act promptly when needed.
Do advance directives need to follow special rules in Tennessee?
Yes, Tennessee has formal requirements for signing and witnessing advance directives to ensure they are legally valid. Generally, documents must be signed by the person creating the directive and witnessed by competent adults who are not named as the agent or who would benefit financially. Some documents may require notarization. Ensuring the proper formalities are followed increases the likelihood that hospitals and medical staff will accept and enforce your wishes without delay.Given the importance of correct execution, it is advisable to review and follow Tennessee’s specific statutory requirements when preparing documents. The firm assists clients in meeting those rules and arranging for proper witnessing or notarization where necessary, which helps prevent challenges to validity at critical moments when decisions must be made quickly.
Can I change or revoke my advance directive after it is signed?
You may change or revoke an advance directive at any time as long as you have decision-making capacity. Revocation can occur through a written, signed document stating your intent to revoke, by physically destroying the original, or by verbally communicating the revocation to witnesses or your healthcare providers in the presence of witnesses. When updating, it is important to create a new directive that clearly supersedes prior documents and to distribute the new version to your agent and healthcare providers.Keeping records organized and informing all relevant parties about changes reduces the risk of old versions being followed by mistake. If a new directive is executed, retrieve or destroy earlier copies when possible and notify medical providers and family members so the most current instructions are the ones that guide care.
Will my directives be followed if I am treated outside of Tennessee?
Advance directives are generally honored across state lines, but rules can vary by jurisdiction. Hospitals and providers typically respect valid directives from another state, particularly when they are clear and properly executed, but differences in statutory requirements may create practical issues. When traveling or receiving care away from Tennessee, carrying a copy of your directive and a signed summary of your wishes can assist care teams in following your instructions.For those who anticipate receiving care outside Tennessee regularly, it can be helpful to confirm local acceptance of out-of-state directives or to execute a document that meets the formalities of the other state as well. Discussing travel plans with your healthcare agent and providers ensures they understand how to locate and present your directives when away from home.
What if my family disagrees with my designated decision-maker?
Designating a healthcare agent generally gives that person the authority to make decisions even if family members disagree, provided the directive is valid and the agent acts within the scope of the document. However, disputes can arise, and when they do providers may seek guidance from ethics committees or the courts. Clear, well-documented directives and open communication with family before a crisis reduce the likelihood of disputes.If family members challenge an agent’s decisions, showing that the agent was properly appointed and that the directives are current and valid helps resolve disagreements more quickly. Proactive conversations with relatives about your choices and the reasons behind them can prevent conflict and ensure your appointed decision-maker is supported when decisions must be made.
Should I include specific instructions about life-sustaining treatments?
Including specific instructions about life-sustaining treatments can provide important clarity for medical teams and loved ones. When you identify particular interventions you would accept or refuse, such as mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, or resuscitation, it reduces ambiguity in emergency situations. Clear preferences help the appointed decision-maker and clinicians act in alignment with your values and avoid making assumptions during high-pressure moments.However, overly rigid lists can sometimes limit needed medical judgment in unforeseen situations. A balanced approach that states general goals along with specific preferences allows for direction while preserving some flexibility for reasonable clinical decisions. Discussing options with your agent and healthcare providers helps craft language that will be practical and meaningful in real-world care.
How do I ensure my healthcare agent knows my wishes?
To ensure your healthcare agent knows your wishes, have detailed conversations that include examples of acceptable outcomes and treatments you would decline. Provide written notes or scenarios that illustrate your priorities so the agent can apply your values to new situations. Encourage your agent to attend medical appointments with you when possible and to keep a copy of the signed directive accessible. Regular discussions help the agent remain confident in representing your preferences.Consider conducting periodic reviews with your agent after significant life events or changes in health, and provide them with updated copies whenever you revise your directive. Open, honest communication helps your agent act decisively and supports alignment between your wishes and the care decisions they make on your behalf.
Are there additional documents I should consider along with advance directives?
Alongside advance directives and living wills, it is often helpful to consider a durable power of attorney for finances, a will, and a healthcare proxy or related forms that document your broader wishes. A financial power of attorney ensures someone can manage bills and other practical matters if you are incapacitated, while a will addresses asset distribution. Coordinating these documents creates a comprehensive plan that addresses medical decisions as well as financial and legacy matters.Depending on personal circumstances, other documents like HIPAA release forms can facilitate access to medical records for your agent, and physician orders such as DNR or POLST forms may be appropriate in certain health situations. Discussing your overall plan helps ensure that medical and financial documents work together smoothly when the need arises.
How often should I review or update my advance healthcare directive?
Reviewing your advance healthcare directive every few years and after major life events is a good practice to ensure it remains consistent with your values and circumstances. Events that warrant review include changes in health status, the death or unavailability of a named agent, marriage, divorce, or relocation to another state. Periodic updates help keep your documents effective and relevant to current medical contexts and personal relationships.When you make changes, follow Tennessee signing and witnessing requirements so the new directive is valid. Notify your healthcare agent, family members, and medical providers of updates and provide them with current copies. Maintaining a clear record of the most recent directive reduces confusion and helps ensure the documents in use reflect your latest intentions.