A Practical Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills let you state your medical care wishes in advance so family and care providers understand what you want. For residents of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, having these documents in place reduces uncertainty during medical crises and helps ensure that decisions reflect your values. This page explains what these documents do, how they differ, and why clear, written directions help families and medical teams act with confidence. Planning now gives you control over future healthcare choices and supports smoother communication when it matters most.
When someone cannot speak for themselves, an advance healthcare directive or living will provides legally recognized directions about treatment preferences and the selection of a person to make decisions on their behalf. These documents are particularly important for people with chronic conditions, those undergoing major surgery, or anyone who wants to avoid confusion about life-sustaining measures. Creating these documents ahead of time helps avoid family disagreement and reduces stress for loved ones. This introduction outlines what to expect when creating directives in Marion County and how the process supports your wishes.
Why Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Matter for You and Your Family
Advance healthcare directives and living wills provide clear, written guidance about medical treatment preferences, helping medical teams and family members understand your priorities. They are valuable during hospital stays, in long-term care settings, and any time a serious medical decision must be made. These documents can reduce emotional strain on family members who otherwise might disagree about care, and they help ensure that your end-of-life and long-term care preferences are honored. Preparing directives also allows you to name a trusted health care agent to make decisions consistent with your values.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves individuals and families in Tennessee with practical estate planning and probate services, including advance healthcare directives and living wills. Our approach focuses on clear communication, personalized documents, and guiding clients through choices that reflect personal values and family dynamics. We listen carefully to your concerns, explain legal options in plain language, and prepare documents designed to work within Tennessee law. Our goal is to make advance care planning accessible and straightforward so clients in South Pittsburg feel confident in their decisions.
Understanding Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills are formal statements that outline your healthcare preferences and designate who may make decisions for you if you cannot. In Tennessee, these documents allow you to address life-sustaining treatments, pain management, organ donation, and comfort care preferences, among other matters. Creating a directive involves thoughtful conversations about values and scenarios you care about. The document becomes most effective when it is clear, legally compliant, and shared with your designated decision-maker and healthcare providers to reduce confusion when decisions are required.
Putting directives in writing is one step in a broader planning process that includes reviewing existing wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations. Advance directives should be revisited after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, diagnosis of a new medical condition, or the death of a loved one. Ensuring that your living will or directive is signed, witnessed according to Tennessee law, and available to your physicians and family helps the document serve its intended purpose when medical decisions arise unexpectedly.
What an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Living Will Mean
An advance healthcare directive is a written statement that details medical treatment preferences and appoints a healthcare agent to make decisions if you are unable. A living will is a specific type of directive focused on end-of-life care choices, such as preferences about life-sustaining treatments and resuscitation. Both documents are meant to communicate your wishes to medical personnel and loved ones so that decisions align with your values. Properly drafted directives reduce guesswork and provide a legally recognized framework for honoring your care preferences.
Key Elements to Include and the Process to Create Them
When preparing directives, include clear statements about treatment preferences, the naming of a trusted decision-maker, instructions about life-sustaining interventions, and any spiritual or personal guidance you want considered. The process usually begins with a conversation to clarify values, followed by drafting language that fits Tennessee legal requirements, then signing and arranging for appropriate witnesses. Sharing the document with your healthcare agent, family, and primary care physician ensures it will be used. Periodic review and updates keep directives aligned with changing preferences and circumstances.
Key Terms and Glossary for Healthcare Directives
Understanding terminology used in healthcare directives helps you make informed decisions. Definitions clarify the roles of decision-makers, the differences between a living will and a medical power of attorney, and what specific medical terms mean in practice. Reviewing these terms before drafting a directive reduces misunderstandings and makes your instructions easier for health professionals to apply. This glossary section outlines the most common terms you will encounter and explains how they relate to your advance care planning choices in Tennessee settings.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An advance healthcare directive is a written legal document that communicates your preferences for medical care and names a person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable. It can cover a range of treatments, from life-sustaining measures to pain management and comfort care. The directive becomes effective when a treating physician determines that you lack decision-making capacity, and it provides a clear reference for family members and clinicians to honor your wishes. Keeping copies accessible ensures the directive can be implemented when needed.
Living Will
A living will is a type of advance directive focused primarily on preferences for end-of-life care and the use of life-sustaining treatments. It typically addresses scenarios such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness and provides specific instructions about interventions like mechanical ventilation or artificial nutrition. The living will helps caregivers and providers understand the circumstances under which you would or would not want certain treatments, supporting decisions that align with your values and goals for quality of life during critical health events.
Healthcare Agent or Proxy
A healthcare agent, sometimes called a proxy, is the person you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to communicate your wishes. Choosing an agent involves selecting someone who knows your values, can remain calm under pressure, and will follow your stated preferences. Your agent’s role includes consulting with medical providers, interpreting the directive in real-time situations, and communicating with family members. It is important to discuss your wishes with the agent before naming them so they understand your priorities and decision-making approach.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare is a legal document that authorizes another person to make healthcare decisions for you if you are incapacitated. Unlike a living will, which addresses specific treatment preferences, this document grants decision-making authority to your chosen agent to act in situations not explicitly covered by written instructions. It remains in effect even if you lose capacity and typically requires signing under Tennessee’s statutory formalities. Combining a durable power of attorney with a living will creates a comprehensive approach to medical decision planning.
Comparing Your Options: Limited Instructions Versus Comprehensive Directives
When planning ahead, decide whether to provide narrow instructions for specific scenarios or adopt a broader directive and agent appointment that covers many possible situations. Limited instructions can be useful when you have firm views about a particular treatment, while comprehensive directives and powers of attorney allow flexibility as situations develop. Both approaches have advantages, and combining them helps balance clarity with adaptability. Consider your medical goals, family dynamics, and how much discretion you want your appointed decision-maker to have when evaluating these options.
When Narrow Directives May Be Appropriate:
Clear Preferences for Specific Treatments
A narrow directive can be appropriate if you have unequivocal preferences about certain medical interventions and want to record those wishes plainly. For example, some individuals clearly state they do not want mechanical respiration or prolonged artificial nutrition under particular circumstances. When wishes are limited and specific, a succinct living will can provide straightforward guidance that medical teams can follow without ambiguity. This approach suits people who have strong convictions about particular procedures and prefer concise instructions over broad delegations of authority.
Short-Term or Situation-Specific Planning
A limited approach may also be sensible for short-term planning, such as when facing a particular surgery or recovery period with predictable outcomes. In those contexts, specifying actions for a known scenario helps avoid unnecessary intervention while preserving other decision-making options for the future. This focused planning can be easier to draft and may reduce the need for ongoing revisions. It remains important to communicate the scope of the directive to family and medical providers so there is a shared understanding of its intended application.
Why a Comprehensive Directive and Decision-Making Plan Is Often Recommended:
Complex Health Situations and Long-Term Planning
Comprehensive directives and the appointment of a healthcare agent are helpful when health situations are uncertain or likely to change over time. A broad plan can address multiple scenarios, allow the agent discretion to interpret your wishes in novel circumstances, and integrate instructions with other estate planning documents. This approach supports consistency across medical, legal, and family decisions and reduces the need for repeated amendments. Thoughtful comprehensive planning is particularly useful for those with chronic conditions or those who want to ensure continuity of care decisions over many years.
Reducing Family Conflict and Facilitating Smooth Decisions
A comprehensive directive that includes clear instructions and a designated decision-maker helps prevent disputes among family members and reduces uncertainty when time-sensitive decisions arise. By naming a trusted agent and documenting your values, you provide a framework for decisions that is legally recognized and easier for clinicians to follow. This clarity promotes a unified approach to care and can reduce emotional strain on loved ones. Open conversations and well-crafted documents often lead to more peaceful and effective decision-making in difficult moments.
Benefits of Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Healthcare Planning
A comprehensive approach to advance healthcare directives and living wills provides flexibility, covers unforeseen circumstances, and integrates decision-making authority with clear instructions. This method helps ensure that treatment choices across different care settings reflect your goals and reduces the need for emergency legal steps. It also supports coordinated planning with other estate documents. By discussing your wishes openly with a designated decision-maker, you create a reliable process for making difficult medical choices when you cannot speak for yourself.
Comprehensive planning offers emotional benefits by giving families a roadmap to follow during stressful times and reducing the burden of guessing what you would want. It clarifies responsibilities for the person you name to act on your behalf and provides medical professionals with a written statement of preferences. Together, these elements foster better communication between family members and caregivers and help make medical decisions that honor your values and preserve dignity in serious health situations.
Consistency Across Care Settings
A comprehensive directive ensures that your healthcare preferences are consistently applied in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and at home. When directives are clear and available to treating teams, there is less risk of conflicting interpretations or inconsistent treatment decisions. This consistency helps maintain the continuity of care you prefer and aligns treatment plans with your values. It also makes transitions between care settings smoother because each provider can refer to the same documented guidance.
Peace of Mind for You and Your Loved Ones
Having comprehensive directives in place brings peace of mind by reducing ambiguity about medical choices and relieving family members of the burden of guessing your wishes. Clear documentation and a named decision-maker allow loved ones to act confidently in alignment with your preferences. This reassurance can make emotionally difficult times more manageable and support better communication among family members, caregivers, and medical staff. Advance planning helps preserve relationships by minimizing conflict during stressful care decisions.
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Practical Tips for Creating Advance Healthcare Directives
Pick the right person as your healthcare agent
Choosing an appropriate healthcare agent means selecting someone who knows your values, communicates well with family members, and can remain composed during medical emergencies. Discuss your wishes with that person ahead of time so they understand your preferences about treatments, life-sustaining measures, and comfort care. Make sure they are willing to accept the responsibility and can be reached easily. Having that conversation reduces confusion later and helps your agent act consistently with your priorities if medical decisions arise.
Put clear, specific preferences in writing
Share documents with key people and update regularly
After signing your advance directive and living will, provide copies to your named agent, primary care physician, and close family members so they know where to find them. Keep an accessible original and consider storing electronic copies in a secure place. Review and update your documents after major life events like marriage, diagnosis, or relocation to keep instructions current. Regular reviews help ensure your healthcare planning reflects your present wishes and that those responsible for carrying out decisions are informed.
Why You Should Consider Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance directives and living wills are important for anyone who wants to make their medical preferences known ahead of time and reduce the burden on family members during critical medical events. These documents become especially important for individuals with chronic illness, those planning major medical procedures, and those who want to ensure their end-of-life values are honored. Preparing directives helps ensure your voice is heard even if you cannot speak and gives your loved ones clear guidance to follow in challenging moments.
Planning ahead also helps prevent disagreements among family members by designating a decision-maker and documenting specific treatment wishes. This arrangement supports informed and timely decision-making by medical staff, which can be particularly important in emergency situations. Advance directives provide legal clarity under Tennessee law and reduce the need for court involvement or emergency guardianship. The documents can be tailored to reflect cultural, religious, or personal values, providing a meaningful record of your preferences.
Common Situations When Advance Healthcare Directives Are Needed
People often create directives before major surgery, when facing a progressive diagnosis, or when they reach retirement age and want to put plans in place. Directives are also important for those who travel frequently or live alone, so medical teams know who to contact and what decisions to follow. Even younger adults can benefit from these documents, particularly if they have serious allergies, family histories of sudden illness, or specific religious beliefs that should guide care. Having directives reduces uncertainty in any of these scenarios.
Before Major Surgery
Preparing an advance directive before major surgery ensures that your preferences about life-sustaining treatments and postoperative care are clear should complications arise. Surgeons and anesthesiologists appreciate knowing a patient’s wishes when unexpected outcomes occur. Documenting your choices and naming a decision-maker gives your loved ones guidance and reduces pressure on them during stressful recovery periods. Advance planning also aligns medical teams with your values and streamlines communication about potential interventions.
Managing Progressive Illness
Individuals diagnosed with progressive conditions such as heart disease, neurological disorders, or terminal illnesses benefit from directives that outline care goals and designate who should make decisions if the person loses capacity. These documents support ongoing conversations about quality of life and help align treatment plans with personal priorities as the condition evolves. By documenting preferences early, patients and families can focus on meaningful care rather than crisis-driven choices at the most difficult times.
Planning for Aging and Retirement
As people age, making advance healthcare decisions becomes an essential part of retirement planning. Directives help ensure that future care preferences are known and that your designated decision-maker can act according to your wishes. Proactively creating these documents reduces the likelihood of emergency legal actions and fosters smoother care transitions if long-term care becomes necessary. Regularly reviewing directives during retirement ensures they remain consistent with changing health conditions and personal priorities.
Advance Care Planning Services in South Pittsburg
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides advance care planning services in South Pittsburg and the surrounding areas of Marion County. We assist clients with drafting living wills, advance healthcare directives, and durable powers of attorney for healthcare that comply with Tennessee law. Our process includes straightforward explanations of options, helping clients choose language that accurately reflects their wishes. We also guide clients on signature and witnessing requirements and recommend steps to make directives available to medical professionals and family members when needed.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Advance Healthcare Planning
Choosing legal guidance for healthcare directives helps ensure documents are properly drafted and legally valid under Tennessee statutes. Jay Johnson Law Firm focuses on clear, practical planning that addresses both medical preferences and family communication. We help clients identify appropriate decision-makers, craft understandable instructions, and explain how the documents work in real healthcare settings. Our goal is to help clients create directives that will be followed and reduce the stress of future medical decisions for their loved ones.
We take time to discuss the specific values and scenarios that matter most to each client, then translate that conversation into written language that is precise and accessible. This tailored approach helps avoid ambiguous provisions and improves the likelihood that healthcare providers will be able to apply the directives as intended. We also advise clients on storing and sharing documents so they are available to the right people at the right time, helping directives function effectively when needed.
Clients benefit from a practical plan that coordinates advance healthcare directives with other estate planning tools to create a complete record of wishes and responsibilities. We help integrate directives with powers of attorney and wills, ensuring a cohesive set of documents that protect personal autonomy and facilitate family communication. For residents of South Pittsburg, this integrated planning approach aims to reduce confusion and promote smoother decision-making during medical crises or end-of-life care.
Get Started with Advance Healthcare Planning Today
How We Prepare Healthcare Directives at Our Firm
Our process begins with an initial conversation to understand your values, medical priorities, and family situation. We then draft documents in plain language that comply with Tennessee requirements and reflect the decisions you want recorded. After reviewing the drafts together, we arrange for proper signing and witnessing so the documents are legally effective. Finally, we advise on distribution to your healthcare agent, physicians, and family members to ensure the documents are accessible when needed.
Step One: Values and Preferences Discussion
The first step is a guided conversation to identify your priorities regarding life-sustaining treatments, comfort care, and decision-making authority. We explore scenarios that matter to you and discuss the roles you want a healthcare agent to have. This discussion helps ensure the language of your directive matches your intentions and prepares your named agent to carry out your wishes. Clear communication at this stage reduces the need for revision later and helps produce a directive that is meaningful in practical settings.
Gathering Personal and Medical Context
We collect relevant personal and medical information that might influence your healthcare decisions, such as chronic conditions, allergies, and prior treatments. Understanding your medical context helps tailor directives to realistic scenarios and prevents overly broad or vague language. We also discuss your spiritual or cultural values so your instructions can reflect those concerns. This focused preparation yields documents that are easier for medical teams to interpret and apply when necessary.
Choosing and Preparing Your Healthcare Agent
Selecting a healthcare agent involves identifying someone who understands your wishes and can advocate for them with medical staff and family members. We help clients discuss roles and expectations with their chosen agent, clarifying how decisions should be approached. Preparing your agent includes advising on communication strategies, what documents they should have, and how to access medical records in urgent situations. This preparation ensures your agent can act promptly and consistently when needed.
Step Two: Drafting and Reviewing Documents
Once preferences and agents are chosen, we draft advance directives and living wills using clear language that complies with Tennessee legal standards. We provide clients with draft documents to review and suggest practical revisions so the final version accurately represents their wishes. This collaborative review helps catch ambiguities and ensures each instruction is understandable. We aim to produce documents that will be recognized by healthcare providers and respected by family members during difficult decisions.
Tailoring Language to Your Choices
We tailor the directive language to match both your specific treatment preferences and the amount of discretion you want to give your agent. This customization balances clarity with flexibility, allowing the agent to respond to unforeseen circumstances while following your core values. The goal is to avoid overly technical or legalistic wording that could confuse providers and instead produce straightforward instructions that medical teams can readily apply in clinical settings.
Ensuring Legal Formalities Are Met
To be effective, directives must meet Tennessee’s signature and witnessing requirements. We explain the necessary steps and provide guidance during signing to ensure the documents are legally valid. We also recommend storing originals and providing copies to your healthcare agent and physicians. Addressing formalities at the time of signing helps prevent delays or disputes about the document’s authority when a medical decision must be made quickly.
Step Three: Execution, Distribution, and Ongoing Review
After signing and witnessing, we support the distribution of documents to your healthcare agent, primary care physician, and close family members. We suggest practical ways to keep copies accessible, such as digital storage and physician records. We also recommend periodic reviews to confirm that the directives still reflect your wishes, especially after major life events. Ongoing review helps ensure that your documents remain effective and aligned with current medical preferences and circumstances.
Providing Copies to Care Providers
Providing copies to your physician and local hospital ensures that your directives are part of your medical record and can be accessed quickly in emergencies. We advise submitting copies to primary care providers and any specialists who manage chronic conditions. Ensuring healthcare teams have the directive on file reduces the likelihood of conflicting actions and supports consistent care aligned with your instructions. Simple distribution steps make it much easier for providers to follow your stated preferences.
Regular Review and Updating
Life changes such as new diagnoses, marital status updates, or moves may call for updated directives. We encourage clients to review their documents periodically and after significant events to confirm they still express current wishes. Updating also allows you to change your named agent if circumstances require. Regular reviews keep the directives relevant and help avoid surprises for your loved ones and care teams when prompt medical decisions are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
What is the difference between a living will and an advance healthcare directive?
A living will is a document that primarily addresses end-of-life care and specific medical interventions you would or would not want in terminal or permanently unconscious conditions. It focuses on treatment preferences such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and artificial nutrition. An advance healthcare directive is a broader term that can include a living will along with a durable power of attorney for healthcare, which designates a person to make decisions on your behalf when you cannot. Together, these documents provide written guidance and an appointed decision-maker to handle a range of medical situations.Choosing between or combining these documents depends on how much detail you want to provide and whether you want to grant decision-making authority to a trusted individual. Many people use both tools: a living will to record specific wishes and an advance directive or durable power of attorney to name someone who can interpret and implement broader decisions. Making sure both documents comply with Tennessee law and are shared with the right people increases the likelihood they will be followed by medical teams.
Who should I name as my healthcare agent?
Your healthcare agent should be someone you trust to carry out your values and make decisions under pressure. Ideal candidates are communicative, available, and able to work with medical professionals and family members. It helps if the person understands your attitudes toward medical treatment and is comfortable advocating on your behalf during stressful moments. You may name alternate agents if the primary agent is unavailable, and discussing your wishes with them beforehand reduces uncertainty in emergencies.Selecting an agent also involves practical considerations such as proximity and availability. If you choose someone who lives far away, ensure they can access records or be reached quickly when needed. Having conversations about specific scenarios and documenting your expectations can guide the agent when interpreting your preferences. Providing clear written instructions alongside the designation further supports consistent decision-making aligned with your values.
When should I update my advance directive or living will?
You should review and consider updating your advance directive or living will after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a serious medical diagnosis, significant changes in relationships, or relocation to a different state. Additionally, a periodic review every few years helps confirm that your document still reflects your current preferences and that your named agent remains appropriate. Changes in medical treatments and personal values can also prompt a revision to ensure instructions remain relevant.When you decide to update your directive, follow Tennessee’s legal formalities for signing and witnessing to make the revised document effective. Inform your agent, family members, and healthcare providers of the update and provide them with copies. Replacing older versions in medical records prevents confusion and helps ensure that providers apply the most current statement of your wishes.
How are advance directives used in emergency situations?
In emergency situations, healthcare teams will look for a current advance directive or living will to understand your treatment preferences. If a directive is available in your medical record or provided by family members, clinicians use it to guide immediate decisions consistent with your stated wishes. When a directive names a healthcare agent, providers will typically consult that person for decisions requiring interpretation of your preferences in real time. Having a written and accessible document speeds decision-making in urgent scenarios.If no written directive is available and your decision-making capacity is impaired, medical staff will follow state policies and may consult family or follow standard medical protocols. To avoid delays and ensure your wishes are followed, make sure your directive is accessible to your primary care physician and emergency contacts and that your designated agent knows where to find it.
Does Tennessee recognize advance directives from other states?
Tennessee will generally recognize advance directives executed in other states, though the specifics can depend on whether the document meets Tennessee’s legal requirements and whether it clearly expresses your wishes. Healthcare providers will typically evaluate out-of-state directives for validity and applicability in clinical settings. To avoid ambiguity, residents who move to Tennessee or are spending extended time here may consider re-executing directives under Tennessee law to ensure full compliance with local formalities.If you have an out-of-state directive, provide copies to your Tennessee healthcare providers and discuss any differences in requirements with legal counsel or your physician. Reaffirming your preferences and potentially updating the document in Tennessee helps ensure that providers can confidently rely on and implement your stated choices when necessary.
What treatments can I address in a living will?
A living will can address a range of treatments including resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, dialysis, and decisions about pain management and palliative care. It allows you to state whether you would want these measures in circumstances like terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. You may also include preferences about organ donation and religious or cultural considerations for end-of-life care. Being specific about scenarios and treatments helps medical teams apply your wishes appropriately.While a living will can cover many interventions, it may not foresee every possible medical situation. Naming an agent through a durable power of attorney for healthcare complements a living will by giving someone authority to interpret your values in circumstances not explicitly described. Together, these tools create a more complete plan for aligning medical care with your goals.
Can my agent refuse treatment on my behalf?
An appointed agent can make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you lack capacity, and that authority generally includes the ability to accept or refuse treatments consistent with your directives and stated wishes. The agent is expected to act in accordance with what you would want, based on your stated preferences and values. If the agent’s decisions fall within the scope of their legal authority and reflect your expressed intentions, healthcare providers typically follow those directions.However, an agent’s authority is not unlimited; it must operate within legal and ethical boundaries. If there is uncertainty about whether a decision aligns with your documented wishes or state law, providers may seek additional guidance or legal input. To reduce disagreement and ambiguity, clearly document treatment preferences and discuss them with your agent in advance.
How do I make sure my healthcare provider has a copy of my directive?
To ensure your healthcare provider has a copy of your directive, deliver a signed copy directly to your primary care physician and any specialists involved in chronic care. Ask the office to include the directive in your electronic medical record and confirm that it will be available in emergencies. Carrying a card or storing an electronic copy with instructions on how to access the full document can also help ensure quick retrieval in urgent situations.Inform family members and your appointed agent where copies are kept and provide them with duplicates. Hospital patient intake processes often request a copy when admitted, so having one accessible in a personal file or via secure digital storage reduces delays in applying your wishes. Regularly verify that the most current version is on record with your providers.
What if family members disagree with my directive?
If family members disagree with your directive, the document itself and the designation of a healthcare agent provide the primary legal guidance for providers. A clear and properly executed directive generally takes precedence over family preferences in guiding medical decisions. Naming an agent reduces the likelihood of disputes by establishing who has authority to make choices consistent with your wishes rather than leaving decisions to multiple relatives.When disagreements arise, it often helps to review the written directive and involve the healthcare team in explaining how the document applies clinically. If disputes persist, legal questions can be addressed through counsel or, in rare cases, court involvement. Preventing conflict is best achieved through clear language in the directive and prior conversations with family members and the appointed agent.
What are the signing and witnessing requirements in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires that advance directives be signed by the individual and witnessed according to state law, which commonly includes having two adult witnesses or execution before a notary, depending on the document type. Witnesses should not be the named healthcare agent or someone who would directly benefit financially from your estate. Ensuring the correct signing formalities are followed helps avoid challenges to the document’s validity when it is needed by medical professionals.We advise clients to follow the prescribed formalities and to keep records of the signing. Providing copies to your physician and keeping the original in a secure but accessible place helps make sure that the directive can be found and used promptly. If you have questions about witnessing requirements or how to properly execute a directive under Tennessee law, seek guidance to confirm compliance.