A Practical Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Planning for future medical decisions is an important step for anyone who wants to make sure their wishes are followed if they cannot speak for themselves. This page explains advance healthcare directives and living wills, how they differ, and how they fit into a complete estate plan for residents of Greenback and surrounding areas in Tennessee. Jay Johnson Law Firm assists clients with drafting clear, legally effective documents that reflect individual values, naming trusted decision makers and outlining treatment preferences. If you are considering these documents, this guide will help you understand options and next steps for protecting your health choices.
Advance healthcare directives and living wills often work together to document a person’s care preferences and appoint an agent to act on their behalf. A living will typically records treatment wishes for end of life situations, while an advance healthcare directive can include a durable power of attorney for healthcare, directive for organ donation, or instructions about life-sustaining treatment. These documents are most effective when they are clear, current, and available to family and medical providers. This page outlines the differences, describes common scenarios when each document is useful, and suggests practical steps for creating and maintaining these important health care planning tools.
Why Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Matter for You and Your Family
Advance healthcare directives and living wills give individuals a way to communicate medical preferences and name someone to make decisions when they cannot. These documents reduce uncertainty for family members, help guide medical teams, and minimize delays when timely decisions are required. Having written instructions can prevent conflict among loved ones and ensure that your values guide treatment choices. Additionally, these documents can include practical details, such as organ donation wishes and preference about pain management. Taking the time to prepare clear healthcare directives supports dignity, preserves autonomy, and provides peace of mind for both the individual and their family.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach in Tennessee
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves Greenback and the broader Tennessee community with a focus on estate planning and probate matters. The firm aims to provide practical, personalized legal assistance to help clients prepare healthcare directives and related documents that reflect their goals. Attorney Jay Johnson has handled many matters involving end-of-life planning, incapacity planning, and probate-related issues in local courts, so clients receive grounded advice informed by local procedures and state law. The firm emphasizes clear communication, careful document drafting, and attention to how documents will be used in real medical and family situations.
Understanding Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that lets you state preferences for medical treatment and appoint a person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. A living will is a related document that focuses on preferences for life-sustaining treatment during terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. Together these documents provide a framework so doctors, hospitals, and family know how you want to be treated. It is important to review and update these documents periodically to reflect changes in health, family relationships, or personal values, and to ensure they comply with Tennessee law.
Creating these documents involves several decisions, including who you will name as your healthcare agent, what types of treatment you would accept or refuse, and whether to include instructions about pain control, organ donation, or end-of-life care. Clear, specific language helps avoid ambiguity and makes it more likely that your preferences will be followed. Discussing your wishes with the person you appoint and with family members can help reduce disagreement later. The firm can help translate your medical preferences into effective and legally recognized documents tailored to your situation.
Defining Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
An advance healthcare directive is a broad term that covers written instructions about medical treatment and the appointment of an agent to make medical decisions if you are incapacitated. A living will is a form of directive that specifically addresses life-sustaining treatment and end-of-life choices. Both documents aim to preserve your ability to control medical decisions even when you cannot communicate. They are activated under conditions set out in the document, often when a physician determines you lack decision-making capacity. Properly drafted directives should be clear, legally valid in Tennessee, and readily available to healthcare providers when needed.
Key Components and the Process for Creating These Documents
Key components of advance healthcare planning include naming a reliable healthcare agent, outlining specific treatment preferences, deciding on organ donation, and including any religious or cultural considerations that should guide decision makers. The process typically starts with a conversation about values and medical priorities, continues with drafting documents that reflect those wishes, and ends with having the documents executed according to state requirements and distributed to the right parties. Many clients also choose to store copies with their physician, hospital, family members, and in a secure location so that the documents can be located quickly when needed.
Key Terms and Glossary for Healthcare Planning
Understanding the terms used in healthcare planning helps you make informed choices. This glossary provides concise definitions of common terms used in advance directives and living wills, explains the role of a healthcare agent, and clarifies what decisions can be delegated. Learning these terms makes it easier to craft documents that reflect personal priorities, ensures that your chosen agent understands their responsibilities, and helps you communicate clearly with medical providers. Familiarity with these concepts also reduces confusion and supports better coordination among family, medical staff, and legal advisors when decisions must be made.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that records your preferences for medical treatment and allows you to appoint an agent to make healthcare decisions if you cannot do so yourself. It can address a wide range of potential medical situations, from temporary incapacity to permanent conditions. The directive should specify when it becomes effective and may include instructions about life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and other care preferences. Clear wording and careful selection of an agent help ensure the document will function as intended when healthcare providers need guidance about your wishes.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal instrument within the advance directive that designates another person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to decide. The appointed agent is expected to follow the instructions in your directive and to act in accordance with your known wishes and best interests. Selecting an agent involves choosing someone who understands your values, communicates well with medical providers, and can manage potentially sensitive decisions. It is important to discuss your wishes with the person you appoint so they feel prepared to act when necessary.
Living Will
A living will is a written document that states an individual’s preferences regarding life-sustaining treatment and other end-of-life care choices. It typically covers situations such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness and specifies what types of interventions should or should not be used. A living will helps guide medical professionals and family members when decisions about continued treatment arise. Having a living will reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that care aligns with personal values about quality of life, comfort, and dignity during serious medical events.
Do Not Resuscitate Order and Related Instructions
A Do Not Resuscitate, or DNR order, is a medical directive that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient’s breathing or heartbeat stops. While a DNR is a medical order placed in a medical record, advance directives and living wills can state preferences about resuscitation and other life-sustaining treatments. Including clear instructions and communicating them to your physician and healthcare agent helps ensure the medical record reflects your wishes and that appropriate orders are in place when they are needed.
Comparing Limited and Comprehensive Healthcare Planning Options
Some people choose a limited approach, using a single simple directive to address the most likely scenarios, while others prefer a comprehensive plan that covers multiple contingencies and coordinates healthcare documents with broader estate planning. A limited approach can be quicker and less expensive, but it may leave gaps if unexpected medical situations arise. A comprehensive plan reduces ambiguity by addressing a range of scenarios and aligning medical directives with financial and end-of-life planning. Deciding which approach is appropriate depends on your health, family dynamics, and personal preferences for decision making and control.
When a Limited Planning Approach May Be Sufficient:
Managing a Predictable or Short-Term Medical Situation
A limited approach can be suitable when medical risks are foreseeable and confined to short-term procedures such as planned surgery or a predictable recovery period. In those cases, a single advance directive or a brief living will stating treatment preferences and naming an agent may be adequate to guide medical decisions. This approach can provide needed clarity without the time and expense of a full estate planning review. It is wise to revisit the directive after the medical event to confirm whether it should remain in place or be expanded to address longer-term concerns.
When Family is in Agreement and Preferences Are Clear
A limited directive may work well when family members already agree on likely treatment choices and a trusted agent is clearly identified. If your values and preferences are straightforward and relatives are likely to support the same decisions, a concise set of instructions can provide enough guidance for healthcare providers. This option reduces complexity while ensuring that immediate decisions have a legal basis. However, if relationships are uncertain or more complex medical possibilities exist, a broader plan may be preferable to avoid future disagreement or misunderstandings.
When a Comprehensive Planning Approach is Advisable:
Complex Health or Family Circumstances Require Broader Planning
Comprehensive planning is often appropriate for individuals with complex medical conditions, blended families, or potential disputes among relatives. A detailed plan can address a range of scenarios, coordinate advance directives with powers of attorney and wills, and reduce the risk of conflicting instructions. It can also include instructions for long-term care planning and contingency decision makers. Taking a broader approach helps ensure that healthcare directives fit within an overall plan for decision making and financial affairs, which can be especially important when multiple parties are involved.
Seeking Clarity Across Medical, Legal, and Financial Decisions
A comprehensive plan brings consistency to healthcare preferences, end-of-life wishes, and estate arrangements so that medical decisions do not conflict with legal or financial plans. This alignment can simplify administration if incapacity or death occurs and help avoid court intervention. Comprehensive planning also allows consideration of tax, benefit, and long-term care implications tied to medical decisions. For many clients, the additional clarity and reduced risk of misinterpretation justify the time spent developing an integrated plan.
Benefits of Taking a Comprehensive Planning Approach
One of the principal benefits of a comprehensive approach is ensuring that all documents work together to reflect your preferences and prevent contradictory instructions. Coordinated planning helps streamline decision making when time is of the essence and reduces the likelihood of disputes that can burden family members and delay care. A thorough plan can include backup agents, detailed treatment preferences, and instructions for communication, which helps medical teams respond quickly. For those with multiple priorities, coordinated documents provide a consistent framework for both short-term and long-term situations.
Another key benefit is the assurance that healthcare directives are reviewed alongside estate planning documents to address interactions between medical decisions and financial or legal matters. This review can minimize unintended consequences, such as conflicting beneficiary designations or gaps in authority during incapacity. A comprehensive plan also encourages documentation of personal values and discussions with loved ones, which can reduce emotional strain when decisions arise. Ultimately, a coordinated approach supports more predictable outcomes aligned with individual goals for care and legacy.
Consistency Across Documents
When healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and estate planning documents are prepared together, they are more likely to reflect the same intentions and avoid conflicting instructions. Consistent language and coordinated agent designations reduce ambiguity and make it easier for medical providers and legal administrators to carry out your wishes. This consistency also helps family members understand their roles and responsibilities, reducing disagreement and confusion during stressful circumstances. Planning with an eye to harmony across documents protects decision making and supports smoother administration when incapacity or death occurs.
Reduced Family Conflict and Clear Decision Making
Thorough planning that documents preferences and names decision makers helps prevent disputes and misunderstandings among family members at stressful times. By designating an agent and communicating your wishes in writing, you provide a legally recognized basis for decisions, which can discourage challenges and confusion. Discussing the plan with relatives in advance further reduces the potential for conflict, and backup provisions offer additional clarity if the primary agent is unavailable. Ultimately, clear planning supports timely, respectful decision making that aligns with your values and eases the emotional burden on loved ones.
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Practical Tips for Creating and Maintaining Healthcare Directives
Choose a Trusted Healthcare Agent
Selecting the right person to act as your healthcare agent is an important decision. Choose someone who understands your values, communicates well with family and medical providers, and is willing to make potentially difficult decisions under pressure. Have a conversation to explain your treatment preferences and the kinds of decisions you expect them to make. Consider naming a backup agent in case the first choice is unavailable. Regularly review your choice and update the document if relationships or circumstances change to ensure the designated agent remains appropriate and prepared to act.
Be Specific About Treatment Preferences
Keep Documents Accessible and Updated
Ensure your healthcare directives are available to the people and institutions that may need them. Provide copies to your healthcare agent, family members, primary care physician, and any specialists. Consider storing a copy in an electronic medical record or another secure but accessible location. Review your documents after major life events, changes in health, or changes in relationships, and update them as needed. Periodic review helps ensure directives reflect current wishes and remain effective under Tennessee law, and it reduces the chance that outdated documents will cause confusion.
Reasons to Create Advance Healthcare Directives and a Living Will
People create advance healthcare directives and living wills for many reasons, including to maintain control over medical decisions, to reduce the burden on loved ones, and to ensure that care aligns with personal values. These documents are especially valuable when facing serious illness, after major surgery, or as part of retirement and elder planning. They also play a role in coordinating care for those with chronic conditions. Preparing directives in advance gives individuals and families time to reflect, discuss options, and document choices calmly rather than making rushed decisions during a medical crisis.
Another reason to consider these documents is to provide legal clarity that supports timely medical action. When instructions are clear and a decision maker is appointed, healthcare providers have a basis for honoring patient wishes without delay. This can be particularly important in emergencies, when decisions about life-sustaining treatment must be made quickly. Advance directives also allow people to express preferences about comfort care, organ donation, and other matters that may not be immediately obvious to family members, ensuring that medical care reflects personal priorities.
Common Situations When Advance Healthcare Directives Are Recommended
Advance healthcare directives are commonly recommended for older adults, those with progressive or chronic illnesses, people planning major medical procedures, and anyone who wishes to have clear instructions in place should they lose decision-making capacity. They are also useful for individuals living far from family, unmarried partners, or families with complex dynamics. Even healthy adults can benefit from directives because medical emergencies can occur unexpectedly. Having clear instructions helps ensure that treatment aligns with the individual’s values regardless of unforeseen circumstances.
Aging or Declining Health
As people age or face progressive health conditions, making decisions about potential future care becomes increasingly important. Advance directives allow individuals to specify preferences about life-sustaining treatment, comfort measures, and the appointment of decision makers long before a crisis occurs. This planning provides clarity to family and medical providers, reduces the likelihood of conflict, and supports decisions that are consistent with the person’s goals for quality of life. Regular review ensures that directives stay aligned with changing medical conditions and personal priorities.
Planned Major Medical Procedures
When facing a planned surgical procedure or medical treatment that carries risk, having advance directives in place provides a clear framework for care if complications arise. A directive can state preferences for interventions, designate who will make decisions, and provide peace of mind for both the patient and family members. Preparing these documents before surgery avoids rushed decisions in high-stress moments and ensures that healthcare providers already have guidance about preferred treatments if unexpected incapacity occurs.
Family or Relationship Complexity
Complex family structures or strained relationships can make healthcare decision making more difficult without clear legal documents. Designating a healthcare agent and stating treatment preferences in writing reduces the risk of disputes and uncertainty. A directive can name a specific person to act and include backup agents if needed, helping ensure decisions are made by someone who understands and will uphold the individual’s wishes. Clear directives also help medical providers know who is authorized to receive information and make choices when capacity is lacking.
Greenback Advance Healthcare Directives Attorney
Jay Johnson Law Firm is available to help Greenback residents prepare advance healthcare directives and living wills that reflect personal values and meet Tennessee legal requirements. The firm works with clients to discuss medical preferences, identify appropriate agents, and draft documents that are clear and practical. Assistance includes guidance on execution, distribution of copies, and periodic review. The goal is to ensure that documents provide reliable direction for medical providers and support families during stressful times by clarifying choices in advance.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Your Healthcare Planning
Clients choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for practical legal guidance and local know-how in Tennessee estate planning and probate matters. The firm focuses on translating personal values into clear legal language that functions in medical and family settings. By working closely with clients to document preferences and name decision makers, the firm helps reduce ambiguity and prepares documents that can be relied upon when they matter most. The approach emphasizes communication, accessibility, and attention to how directives will be used in real-world medical situations.
The firm assists with both simple directives for straightforward situations and comprehensive planning for more complex needs, coordinating healthcare documents with broader estate and incapacity planning when appropriate. Jay Johnson Law Firm also helps clients understand Tennessee requirements for execution and the best ways to store and share documents to ensure accessibility. Clients receive guidance on selecting agents, drafting specific instructions, and creating backup plans so that decisions are efficient and aligned with client priorities.
Along with document preparation, the firm can advise on communicating healthcare wishes to family members and healthcare providers, which often reduces misunderstanding and stress when decisions arise. The office can also help update documents after major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, birth, or changes in health. For residents of Greenback and nearby communities, the firm provides practical support to ensure documents are both legally valid and useful in the situations they were intended to address.
Contact Jay Johnson Law Firm to Discuss Your Healthcare Wishes
How the Advance Directive Process Works at Our Firm
The process typically begins with a discussion of your goals, values, and medical preferences so documents reflect what matters most to you. We gather relevant information about family structure, existing medical conditions, and any prior documents. Next, we draft directives and related documents with clear, actionable language. After reviewing the drafts together and making any necessary adjustments, we finalize the documents and advise on proper execution and distribution. The firm also provides guidance on storing documents and updating them when circumstances change.
Step One: Initial Consultation and Information Gathering
During the initial consultation, we ask about your health history, family relationships, and personal values related to medical care. This conversation helps identify the kinds of instructions that will be most useful, whether a simple living will is sufficient, or a more detailed advance directive is preferable. We also discuss who you might appoint as your healthcare agent, potential backup agents, and any religious or cultural considerations. The goal is to collect the necessary background so documents can be tailored to your circumstances and ready for drafting.
Discussing Goals and Medical Preferences
We will explore your preferences about life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and other medical interventions and document the values that should guide decisions. This discussion helps translate personal priorities into practical instructions that medical providers can follow. We encourage clients to consider scenarios that matter most to them and to identify specific treatments they would accept or decline. This step promotes clarity and helps ensure the directive will be meaningful and actionable in a range of clinical situations.
Selecting and Preparing Your Healthcare Agent
Choosing a healthcare agent involves considering who will be able to carry out your wishes under pressure and who can work effectively with medical staff and family members. We discuss qualities to look for in an agent and advise on naming one or more backup agents. The office also recommends that clients have a conversation with the chosen person to ensure they understand the role and are willing to serve. Preparing the agent with information about the client’s values and preferences makes the appointment more effective.
Step Two: Document Drafting and Review
After gathering information, we draft advance healthcare directives and living wills using clear language tailored to the client’s expressed wishes. Drafting includes specifying activation conditions, treatment preferences, and agent authority. We review each draft with the client, explain how provisions will be interpreted, and make revisions until the client is satisfied. This collaborative review helps ensure the documents will function as intended and reduces the chance of confusion when they are needed by medical teams and family members.
Drafting Clear, Actionable Instructions
During drafting, we focus on making instructions specific enough to guide clinicians while allowing the agent appropriate discretion to respond to unforeseen circumstances. Clear language about preferences and limitations, along with examples when helpful, reduces ambiguity. We also address related issues such as organ donation, anatomical gifts, and instructions regarding pain management. The aim is to create a document that is both legally valid in Tennessee and practical for healthcare providers to apply in real medical situations.
Reviewing and Revising to Fit Personal Circumstances
We review drafts with clients to ensure the documents reflect their values and practical needs, taking time to explain any legal terminology and options. Clients may request edits to refine preferences or add contingencies. This stage helps ensure the final directive is comfortable for the client and understandable to others who may rely on it. We also advise on how to integrate the directives with other estate planning instruments when broader planning is appropriate.
Step Three: Execution, Signing, and Recordkeeping
Once documents are finalized, we guide clients through the proper execution steps required in Tennessee, including witnessing or notarization if necessary. We discuss who should receive copies, recommend ways to store documents where they will be found when needed, and suggest adding the directive to medical records when possible. The firm also explains how to revoke or update directives if circumstances change. Proper execution and distribution ensure that documents are accessible and legally effective when decisions arise.
Executing Documents According to State Requirements
Execution formalities may include signing in the presence of witnesses or a notary depending on the document and state law. We explain Tennessee requirements and arrange for the appropriate steps to be completed so the documents will be recognized by healthcare providers. Clear instruction about execution reduces the risk that a document will be questioned during a medical emergency. After execution, we recommend distributing copies and recording the location so family members and medical teams can access them promptly if needed.
Storing Copies and Communicating Your Wishes
After signing, we advise clients to provide copies to their designated agent, primary care physician, and close family members, and to keep a copy in a known, secure place. Some clients choose to include directives in their electronic health record or provide a wallet card indicating where a directive can be found. Communicating your wishes and the location of documents reduces delays and confusion during an emergency. Regularly checking that copies remain accessible helps ensure directives are effective when called upon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
What is the difference between an advance healthcare directive and a living will?
An advance healthcare directive is a broad term that can include a healthcare power of attorney, which appoints someone to make medical decisions, as well as written instructions about treatment preferences. A living will is a type of directive that specifically addresses end-of-life care and life-sustaining treatment in situations such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. Both documents are tools to communicate preferences when you cannot speak for yourself and can be used together for greater clarity. Having both a directive that names an agent and a living will that spells out specific instructions provides a practical combination. The agent can interpret the living will and make decisions consistent with your values in situations not specifically covered by your written instructions. Together they reduce ambiguity for family members and medical providers.
Who should I name as my healthcare agent?
Choose someone you trust to act on your behalf, who knows your values, and who can communicate effectively with healthcare providers and family. Consider whether the person is likely to be available and able to make difficult decisions under stress. It is also practical to name at least one backup agent in case your first choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve. Before naming an agent, discuss your wishes and expectations with them so they are prepared to act when necessary. You should also consider how family dynamics might affect their ability to carry out your choices and whether a neutral third party might be a better fit in some situations.
When should I update my healthcare directive or living will?
Update your healthcare directive and living will after major life events, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, significant changes in health, or changes in relationships with the person you named as agent. It is also a good idea to review documents periodically every few years to confirm they still reflect your wishes and comply with current law. If you move to another state or if Tennessee law changes in ways that affect document validity, consider updating documents to ensure they remain effective. Regular review helps avoid unintended instructions and keeps appointments and preferences aligned with your current situation.
Are advance directives legally binding in Tennessee?
Yes, advance directives and living wills are legally recognized in Tennessee when they meet the statutory requirements for execution. Having properly executed documents gives medical providers and institutions clear guidance and a legal basis to follow your instructions. It is important to follow the state’s formalities for signing and witnessing when required so your documents will be respected. Even when requirements are met, it is helpful to ensure that your physician and the hospital have copies or know where to find the directive. Proper distribution and communication increase the likelihood that directives will be followed when decisions are required.
Can I include instructions about organ donation in my directive?
You can typically include organ donation preferences in an advance directive or living will, or you can provide a separate anatomical gift form. Specifying donation wishes helps ensure your preferences are known and can be coordinated with medical teams and local organ procurement organizations. Clear instructions reduce uncertainty about whether you would want organs or tissues donated for transplantation or research. When including donation instructions, consider whether you want to make the donation conditional on certain circumstances and whether you wish to donate for transplant, research, or education. Providing explicit guidance makes it easier for hospitals to act in accordance with your wishes.
How do I make sure my doctors know about my directives?
To ensure doctors know about your directives, provide a copy to your primary care physician and any specialists you see, and ask that a copy be placed in your medical record. You can also give copies to your healthcare agent and close family members so they can produce the document if needed. Some patients include a note in their medical chart or use state registries where available to record the existence and location of directives. Regularly reminding healthcare providers during appointments that you have a directive and confirming its presence in the medical record increases the likelihood that it will be accessible in an emergency. Clear placement and communication reduce delays when time-sensitive decisions are required.
What happens if I don’t have a healthcare directive and become incapacitated?
If you do not have a healthcare directive and become incapacitated, decisions about your medical care will generally fall to family members under Tennessee’s default decision-making order, which can vary and may not match your personal preferences. In some cases, disagreements among family members can lead to delays or the need for court involvement to appoint a decision maker. This uncertainty can increase stress for loved ones and potentially lead to treatment choices you would not have wanted. Having a directive in place avoids reliance on default rules and provides a clearer path for decision making. Appointing an agent and documenting your wishes reduces the burden on family and helps ensure that medical care aligns with your values.
Can I limit the authority of my healthcare agent in my directive?
Yes, you can limit the authority of your healthcare agent by specifying the types of decisions they may make or by including instructions that require them to follow certain guidance. For example, you can allow your agent to make routine care decisions but prohibit their authority to withdraw specific life-sustaining treatments unless certain conditions are met. Clear, specific limitations help guide the agent and healthcare providers about the scope of authority intended. When setting limits, consider the balance between giving your agent flexibility to respond to unforeseen circumstances and providing specific instructions to ensure your preferences are honored. Discussing the limits with your chosen agent helps ensure they understand and will act consistently with your wishes.
How do these documents interact with other estate planning tools?
Advance healthcare directives should be coordinated with other estate planning documents, such as powers of attorney for finances, wills, and trust documents, to create a coherent plan for incapacity and end-of-life matters. Coordination helps avoid conflicts between documents and ensures that the right people have authority over healthcare, finances, and property when needed. It also allows consideration of how medical decisions may affect financial planning, benefits, and long-term care arrangements. Reviewing healthcare directives alongside other estate planning tools provides an opportunity to align beneficiaries, clarify responsibilities, and consider contingencies that span medical and financial concerns. This integrated approach reduces the risk of unintended consequences.
How can I get started preparing an advance healthcare directive or living will?
To get started, gather your thoughts about medical preferences and identify who you would trust to make decisions on your behalf. Schedule a consultation to discuss these priorities and learn what documents are needed under Tennessee law. During the meeting, you can review options, discuss terms to include, and determine the level of detail that suits your situation. The firm will prepare draft documents based on your instructions, review them with you, and guide you through execution and distribution. Taking these steps early gives you control over future medical decisions and provides clarity for those who may need to act on your behalf.