Comprehensive Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills are legal documents that let you direct medical care decisions in advance, name decision-makers, and outline preferences for end-of-life and critical care. For residents of Cordova and throughout Shelby County, having clear written instructions reduces confusion for family members and medical providers at times of stress. This guide outlines what these documents do, how they interact with other estate planning tools, and why preparing them sooner rather than later protects your wishes and provides peace of mind for those who may need to carry out your decisions in the future.
When you create an advance healthcare directive or a living will, you document your medical treatment preferences and designate who can make decisions if you cannot. For many people, these documents complement wills and powers of attorney and form part of a complete estate plan. In Tennessee, ensuring documents meet state requirements and reflect current medical standards helps avoid disputes and delays. This page explains practical steps to create, update, and use these documents in Cordova, including what to expect from the process, common questions people ask, and how to keep your instructions accessible to those who need them.
Why Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Matter for You and Your Family
An advance healthcare directive or living will gives you control over future medical choices and relieves family members of the burden of guessing your wishes during emergencies. These documents can address life-sustaining treatment preferences, pain management goals, organ donation, and the appointment of a healthcare decision-maker. For families, a clear directive reduces the potential for conflict and ensures medical teams follow the patient’s directives. Establishing these documents early, and reviewing them after major life events, keeps your plan aligned with your values and medical advances and supports smoother coordination among loved ones and providers.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Advance Directives
Jay Johnson Law Firm assists Cordova and Shelby County residents with estate planning services focused on practical, client-centered solutions. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, careful document drafting, and education so that clients understand how directives work in both routine and urgent medical situations. We handle document preparation, review existing materials, and advise on coordinating directives with broader estate plans. Our goal is to make legally valid documents that reflect personal values while reducing future legal friction for family members and healthcare teams who must interpret and follow those instructions.
Understanding Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills in Tennessee
An advance healthcare directive typically includes a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare. The living will clarifies preferences about life-sustaining treatment under specific circumstances, while the healthcare power of attorney names an agent to make decisions when you cannot. In Tennessee, clarity in language and proper signing are important for these documents to be effective. Clients often benefit from discussing likely medical scenarios and how they view quality of life, so the directive provides practical guidance for doctors and decision-makers during critical moments.
Preparing an advance directive involves several steps: identifying durable decision-makers, defining treatment preferences, completing the required forms, and ensuring proper signatures and witness or notary requirements under Tennessee law. Once executed, directives should be shared with family, healthcare agents, and medical providers and kept accessible. Periodic review is advisable after health changes, new medical diagnoses, or changes in personal relationships, because directives should reflect current wishes. Proper coordination with other estate planning documents can prevent conflicts and ensure a unified approach to decision-making.
Defining Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
A living will is a written statement describing your preferences about medical treatment if you are facing a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness and cannot express informed consent. An advance healthcare directive is a broader term that often includes both a living will and the designation of a healthcare agent through a durable power of attorney for healthcare. Both serve to document wishes in advance, provide legal authority for an agent to act, and guide medical teams. Understanding the differences helps people choose the right combination to reflect their values and practical needs.
Key Elements and the Process for Creating Directives
Creating effective advance directives involves several components: clear, specific language about treatments you would accept or refuse, identification of a trusted agent to act on your behalf, and adherence to Tennessee signing and witnessing rules. The process typically includes a discussion about likely scenarios, drafting or reviewing the document, executing it with the proper formalities, and distributing copies to relevant parties. Keeping records updated and informing healthcare providers about the existence and location of the directive ensures your instructions are available when needed and reduces uncertainty at difficult times.
Key Terms and Glossary for Advance Healthcare Directives
Knowing common terms used in advance directives helps people make informed choices and speak more confidently with attorneys and medical professionals. Terms like living will, healthcare agent, durable power of attorney for healthcare, do-not-resuscitate order, and capacity have specific legal and medical meanings. Understanding these words clarifies what documents accomplish and how they interact with other legal instruments. Familiarity with terminology also helps when reviewing sample forms, discussing wishes with family members, and ensuring documents will be interpreted as intended during medical decision-making.
Living Will
A living will is a written document stating your preferences about medical treatments in the event you become unable to communicate due to a terminal illness or irreversible condition. It typically addresses whether you want life-sustaining measures such as mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation under specific circumstances. The living will helps medical providers and family members understand your priorities for comfort, prolonging life, or limiting interventions when recovery is unlikely. Having a living will in place reduces uncertainty and aligns care with your stated values during serious medical events.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare is a legal document that names an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. That person, often called a healthcare agent, is authorized to communicate with providers, consent to or refuse treatments, and access medical records to carry out your documented preferences. The durable nature of the document means it remains in effect if you lose decision-making capacity. Choosing an agent who understands your wishes and communicates well with family and medical teams is important for smooth decision-making.
Capacity
Capacity refers to an individual’s ability to understand relevant information about a medical decision and appreciate the likely consequences of their choices. Determinations about capacity are usually made by medical professionals and can vary with the complexity of decisions and the person’s condition at the time. If a person lacks capacity, a previously designated healthcare agent can act under a durable power of attorney for healthcare, and living will provisions guide decisions. Clear documentation of wishes helps avoid disputes when capacity issues arise.
Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order
A do-not-resuscitate order instructs medical personnel not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a person’s heart stops or they stop breathing. A DNR is typically issued by a physician based on patient preferences and medical appropriateness and may be documented in medical records or on specific state forms for home use. While a living will can express broader preferences about life-sustaining treatments, a DNR is a targeted medical order used in emergency settings. Discussing DNR options with medical providers ensures the order is consistent with overall care goals.
Comparing Limited vs. Comprehensive Advance Care Planning Options
When considering advance care planning, people often choose between simple, limited documents and more comprehensive planning that integrates multiple instruments. A limited approach might include a basic living will or a brief agent designation, while comprehensive planning weaves together a living will, a durable power of attorney for healthcare, and coordination with other estate planning documents. The right choice depends on personal circumstances, family dynamics, medical history, and the desire for detailed instructions. Understanding the trade-offs helps you choose an approach that balances clarity, flexibility, and administrative ease.
When a Limited Advance Directive May Be Appropriate:
Short-Term Simplicity and Minimal Medical Complexity
A limited advance directive can be appropriate for individuals in generally good health who want straightforward instructions without extensive documentation. When medical history is uncomplicated and family relationships are stable, a brief living will or agent designation may provide sufficient guidance for likely scenarios. This approach reduces paperwork and can be quicker to prepare. However, even with a limited directive, it is important to ensure the document meets Tennessee’s requirements and that the named agent understands the person’s basic preferences and values.
Low Anticipated Need for Complex Medical Decision-Making
A limited plan may be suitable when there is low likelihood of severe or prolonged incapacity and when family members are aligned on general care preferences. For example, younger adults without chronic conditions who want to document basic instructions or name a decision-maker can often rely on concise forms. The key is ensuring those forms are legally valid in Tennessee and accessible to providers. Even minimal planning can prevent confusion, but clients should periodically reassess whether more comprehensive documentation would be helpful as circumstances change.
Why a Comprehensive Advance Care Plan Can Be Beneficial:
Complex Health Conditions or Anticipated Long-Term Care Needs
Comprehensive planning is often recommended for individuals with chronic illnesses or complex medical histories that may require ongoing decision-making across settings. Detailed directives can offer guidance about preferences for prolonged life support, rehabilitation goals, and comfort-focused care. When paired with a durable power of attorney for healthcare, these documents allow a trusted agent to make nuanced decisions consistent with the person’s documented values. Comprehensive planning reduces ambiguity and helps families and medical teams align treatment plans with the patient’s priorities over time.
Complicated Family Dynamics or Potential for Disagreements
If family relationships are strained or there is a risk of disagreement among relatives about care decisions, a comprehensive advance plan that includes clear written instructions and a carefully chosen agent can prevent disputes. Detailed documentation helps courts and providers see the person’s intent, and a designated decision-maker with clear authority simplifies communication. Comprehensive planning also anticipates contingency scenarios and can include priority backups, detailed treatment preferences, and instructions for carrying out wishes in the face of disagreement or confusion.
Core Benefits of a Comprehensive Advance Healthcare Plan
A comprehensive advance healthcare plan promotes consistency in medical decision-making and reduces the burden on family members who may otherwise be left to guess about the patient’s wishes. It ensures that an authorized agent can act with legal authority, that medical teams receive clear instructions, and that potential conflicts among family members are minimized. Such planning also provides clarity for end-of-life care preferences, comfort measures, and specific instructions about life support, helping align medical care with personal values and religious or cultural beliefs.
Comprehensive planning also helps preserve the patient’s voice over time by recording detailed preferences that apply in a variety of clinical circumstances. When documents are regularly reviewed and updated after major life events or changes in health, they remain reliable guides. This approach further aids continuity of care across different healthcare settings and providers, reducing delays and ensuring that advance directives work in tandem with other estate planning instruments and medical orders to reflect the person’s overall objectives for care and comfort.
Reduced Family Conflict and Clear Decision Authority
One major benefit of comprehensive planning is the reduction of uncertainty that can lead to family disagreements. By clearly naming an agent and outlining specific treatment preferences, the plan gives a single legally authorized decision-maker direction and authority to act. This clarity helps avoid emotional disputes during stressful times, streamlines communication with medical staff, and enables timely decisions that reflect the patient’s values. Families often find this structure comforting because it shifts focus from disagreement to honoring the documented wishes.
Better Coordination with Medical Providers and Records
When directives are detailed and properly executed, medical providers can implement care plans that align with the patient’s preferences across settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, or home care. A comprehensive approach helps ensure that instructions such as DNR orders, palliative care preferences, or limits on life-sustaining treatments are clearly communicated and recorded in medical charts. Coordination reduces the risk of conflicting orders and helps clinicians honor the patient’s goals in urgent situations when time is limited.
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Practical Tips for Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Choose and Prepare Your Healthcare Agent Thoughtfully
Selecting a healthcare agent requires careful thought about the person’s ability to represent your wishes calmly and make difficult decisions under stress. Discuss your values and specific treatment preferences with the person you intend to name so they understand your priorities. Provide copies of your directive and instructions on where to find originals, and consider naming an alternative agent in case the first choice is unavailable. Clear communication prior to an emergency ensures your agent can act effectively and confidently when decisions are needed.
Keep Your Documents Accessible and Share Copies
Use Clear, Specific Language and Review Regularly
When drafting directives, use straightforward and specific language about treatment preferences and scenarios in which certain measures should or should not be used. Ambiguity can lead to differing interpretations by family members and providers. Periodic review and updates help ensure the documents remain current with your values, medical advances, and any changes in your relationships. Regular reviews also give you the opportunity to confirm that named decision-makers remain willing and able to serve in that role.
Reasons to Prepare an Advance Healthcare Directive or Living Will
Preparing an advance healthcare directive protects your ability to make decisions about future medical care and removes uncertainty from family members and healthcare providers. It clarifies whether you prefer life-sustaining treatment, palliative care, or comfort-focused measures in defined circumstances. Directives are especially valuable when a sudden illness or accident occurs and you cannot communicate your wishes. Clear documentation also reduces legal friction and helps ensure timely compliance with your stated preferences across different care settings.
Advance directives also formalize who should speak for you and grant that person the legal authority to make medical choices if necessary. This is important for smooth communication with hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. For those with advanced age, chronic health conditions, or complex family dynamics, directives can prevent disputes and provide a consistent framework for care decisions. Even younger, healthy people benefit by documenting basic preferences and naming a trusted agent in case of unexpected events.
Common Circumstances When Advance Directives Are Particularly Helpful
Advance directives are commonly needed after major medical diagnoses, following surgery with significant risk, when planning for long-term care, or when age increases the chance of incapacitation. They are also valuable for people with progressive neurological conditions, serious chronic illnesses, or complex family situations where decision-making clarity is important. In such situations, directives provide instructions for the types of treatment you would or would not want and designate who will speak for you if you cannot communicate, which eases transitions and reduces family stress.
After a Serious Diagnosis or Hospitalization
Following a serious diagnosis or hospitalization is a key time to create or revisit advance directives because the likelihood of future medical decisions increases. Preparing these documents while you are able to communicate your preferences ensures that your wishes about treatment intensity, resuscitation, and comfort care are documented and available to medical teams. It also allows you to appoint a decision-maker who understands the prognosis and treatment options, which streamlines care planning and helps family members follow a consistent approach.
Before Major Surgery or Medical Procedures
Preparing directives before major surgery or a procedure with anesthetic risk is important so that your preferences are known in the event of complications. Surgeons and hospitals appreciate having clear documentation, which can guide immediate decisions if unexpected outcomes occur. Preoperative planning allows time to discuss options and ensure that documents are properly executed and distributed. This preparation helps reduce stress for loved ones and supports care that reflects your values during urgent and unexpected moments.
When Planning for Aging or Long-Term Care
As people plan for aging or potential long-term care needs, advance directives ensure that treatment preferences and agent designations remain current and legally effective across transitions. Living wills and durable healthcare powers of attorney coordinate with long-term care planning to address issues such as admission to care facilities, palliative approaches, and comfort-focused decisions. Updating directives during such planning helps maintain clarity and ensures that chosen decision-makers have authority when changes in health status occur.
Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills in Cordova, TN
Jay Johnson Law Firm is available to assist Cordova residents with drafting, reviewing, and updating advance healthcare directives and living wills tailored to individual values and Tennessee legal requirements. We provide guidance on selecting a healthcare agent, clarifying treatment preferences, and ensuring documents meet signing and witness formalities. Our team also advises on communicating directives to family and medical providers, coordinating directives with other estate planning tools, and making practical arrangements so your wishes are accessible when needed.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Advance Directives and Living Wills
Clients choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for personalized attention during advance care planning because we focus on clear communication and practical results that reflect each client’s values. We explain legal requirements in Tennessee, draft documents using straightforward language, and help clients plan for foreseeable medical situations. Our goal is to produce legally valid directives that minimize confusion and provide confidence to families and medical teams tasked with honoring those wishes. We prioritize accessibility and responsiveness to client concerns throughout the process.
The firm guides clients through naming appropriate healthcare agents, identifying fallback decision-makers, and documenting specific preferences for treatment and comfort care. We also help clients understand how directives interact with medical orders and other estate planning documents, and we recommend steps to ensure directives are readily available to providers. By focusing on the practical application of directives, we aim to reduce the risk of disagreements and help families act with clarity during difficult moments.
We help clients in Cordova and Shelby County execute directives correctly under Tennessee law, and we offer follow-up reviews as circumstances change. Our approach includes answering questions about common scenarios, assisting with form completion and witnessing requirements, and providing guidance on sharing documents with healthcare providers. We work to make the process straightforward and respectful so that clients feel confident their wishes are recorded accurately and will guide decision-making when the time comes.
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How We Prepare Advance Directives and Living Wills at Our Firm
Our process begins with a focused conversation to learn about your health background, values, and priorities for medical care. We then explain available documents and options under Tennessee law, draft tailored directives in clear terms, and review the content with you to confirm intent. We ensure proper execution with witnesses or notary requirements, provide finalized copies for your records, and offer guidance on distribution to agents and medical providers. Follow-up reviews are recommended to keep documents current and effective.
Step 1: Consultation and Preferences Discussion
During the initial consultation we discuss your goals for medical care, any relevant medical history, and personal values that should guide treatment decisions. This conversation helps identify the types of scenarios you want addressed and the right person to serve as your healthcare agent. We explain how living wills and durable powers of attorney differ and how they work together so you can make informed choices about the content and scope of your directives.
Discussing Values and Treatment Priorities
We explore your views on life-sustaining treatments, pain management, and goals for quality of life so the directive reflects your priorities. This may include preferences about mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, antibiotic use, and palliative care. By documenting specific preferences and general values, the directive becomes a practical tool for agents and providers to follow during critical decisions, ensuring choices align with what matters most to you.
Choosing a Healthcare Agent and Alternates
We help you identify an appropriate primary agent and backup agents who can act if the first choice is unavailable. The process includes evaluating willingness, availability, and ability to carry out sensitive decisions under pressure. Naming alternates and discussing potential family dynamics helps avoid gaps and ensures continuity in decision-making. Clear designation and communication with chosen agents reduce the risk of confusion when decisions must be made quickly.
Step 2: Drafting and Execution
After preferences and agent choices are clear, we prepare documents that meet Tennessee legal formality requirements and reflect your instructions in plain language. Drafting includes specific treatment scenarios and any limits or conditions you want included. We then coordinate signing with required witnesses or notary services, provide instructions for distributing copies, and offer guidance to ensure the documents are inserted into your medical record when appropriate.
Preparing Documents Tailored to Your Wishes
Drafting tailors the language to avoid ambiguity and to fit your personal values and medical preferences. We consider whether you want broad guidance, specific directives for certain medical situations, or both. Clear drafting reduces interpretive disagreements and increases the likelihood that medical providers will honor the direction. We also advise on integrating directives with other legal documents to ensure a cohesive plan.
Execution, Witnessing, and Distribution
Execution requires following Tennessee’s requirements for signatures and witnesses or notarization. We schedule signing sessions to confirm all formalities are satisfied and provide official copies for you, your agent, and medical providers. We also recommend steps for ensuring the documents are placed in medical records and that key family members know where to find the originals. Proper distribution improves the likelihood your instructions will be found and followed when they are needed most.
Step 3: Review, Update, and Ongoing Access
After execution, directives should be reviewed periodically and updated following major life events, changes in health status, or shifts in personal relationships. We offer scheduled reviews to confirm that documents remain accurate and to make revisions when wished. Maintaining an accessible filing system and regular communication with agents and medical providers helps ensure directives remain effective and available across different care settings and as circumstances evolve over time.
Periodic Reviews and Revisions
Regular reviews help confirm that your directives continue to reflect your values and current medical care preferences. After surgeries, diagnoses, or family changes, revisiting documents prevents outdated instructions from causing confusion. During review appointments we evaluate whether language needs refinement, whether agents remain appropriate, and whether additional medical orders or documentation should be implemented to support the directive in clinical settings.
Ensuring Accessibility for Providers and Agents
Keeping documents accessible to providers and agents is a practical step that increases the chance your wishes will be honored. This can include placing copies in medical records, providing wallet cards indicating the existence of directives, and sharing digital copies where appropriate. We assist clients in creating a clear distribution plan and in instructing healthcare teams on where to find the directives when critical decisions arise.
Common Questions About Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
What is the difference between a living will and a healthcare power of attorney?
A living will focuses on your treatment preferences in situations where you cannot communicate, often addressing life-sustaining measures, while a durable power of attorney for healthcare names an agent to make decisions on your behalf. The living will provides direct instruction to medical teams, whereas the healthcare power of attorney grants authority to a person to interpret your wishes and make decisions in real time. Using both documents together gives both written guidance and a designated decision-maker to apply that guidance in context.Combining a living will with a healthcare power of attorney provides a practical balance of clear instructions and flexibility. The written directives guide providers on specific measures you accept or refuse, while the agent can address unforeseen situations with insight into your values. This dual approach reduces ambiguity and helps ensure decisions during critical moments align with your intentions and the realities of medical care.
When should I create or update my advance healthcare directive?
You should create an advance healthcare directive as soon as you want to document your medical preferences and name someone to act on your behalf if you cannot. Key times to create or update directives include before major surgeries, after significant health diagnoses, during planning for aging or long-term care, or after changes in family relationships. Having documents in place before an emergency allows your wishes to be known and reduces the burden on family members.Updating is important whenever your medical situation, personal values, or relationships change. Regular reviews ensure the directive reflects current wishes and that named agents remain appropriate. Even when no obvious change occurs, periodic review every few years helps confirm documents remain consistent with your priorities and the current legal or medical landscape.
Who should I name as my healthcare agent?
Choose a healthcare agent who is willing, available, and able to make difficult decisions under stress and who understands your values and preferences for care. Consider how the person communicates with family and medical providers, their proximity if immediate decisions may be needed, and their ability to carry out potentially unpopular decisions. It is helpful to discuss your wishes with the person in advance so they feel prepared and informed.Also name alternate agents in case your primary choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve. Selecting alternates provides continuity and prevents gaps in decision-making authority. Make sure all named agents receive copies of the directive and understand where the original is kept so they can act promptly if necessary.
How do I ensure my directive will be followed by medical providers?
To increase the likelihood that providers follow your directive, ensure that the document is clearly written, properly executed under Tennessee law, and placed in your medical record. Provide copies to your primary care physician, specialists, hospital, and any long-term care facility, and ask that the directive be included in your chart. Verbal discussions with providers about your wishes can also help align care plans with your documented preferences.Consider additional medical orders, such as physician orders for life-sustaining treatment, when appropriate, because certain clinical settings rely on medical orders in addition to legal documents. Regular communication with providers and ensuring updated copies are in accessible locations improves the chance that your wishes will be honored in urgent situations.
Can my advance directive be overridden by my family or doctors?
Family members or doctors should not override a valid advance directive that clearly states your wishes, but disputes can arise if the document is ambiguous, improperly executed, or absent. If medical providers have concerns about the document’s validity, they may seek clarification from legal counsel or the courts. Naming a trusted agent who can advocate on your behalf and ensuring documents are clear reduces the risk of disagreements.When conflicts occur, steps such as mediation, hospital ethics committees, or legal intervention may resolve disputes. Properly executed directives and having them included in medical records help prevent attempts to override your wishes by providing clear evidence of your intent and legal authorization for your chosen decision-maker.
Do I need a lawyer to prepare an advance directive or living will in Tennessee?
You are not always required to use a lawyer to prepare an advance directive or living will, as Tennessee provides statutory forms that individuals can complete. However, legal guidance helps ensure documents are executed in compliance with state requirements and that the language accurately reflects your intentions. Lawyers can also advise on how directives interact with other estate planning instruments and on steps to minimize future disputes.If your situation involves complex medical decisions, blended families, or potential conflicts among heirs or decision-makers, consulting with a lawyer can help tailor documents and address contingencies. Legal review reduces the risk of errors and improves clarity, which benefits both agents and medical providers when decisions must be made.
How do I make my directive available if I am hospitalized outside Cordova?
To make your directive available during out-of-area hospitalizations, provide copies to your primary care physician and upload documents to any patient portals or medical record systems used by your providers. Carrying a copy on your phone or providing family members with printed copies can help ensure the directive is found quickly in emergencies. Some people also use secure digital storage or registries that medical providers can access in urgent situations.Inform your healthcare agent and alternates about where documents are kept and provide contact information for key family members and providers. Quick access and clear instructions for locating the original help hospital staff and decision-makers follow your wishes even when you are away from home.
What happens if I become incapacitated without a directive in Tennessee?
If you become incapacitated without a directive in Tennessee, decisions about your medical care may fall to family members according to state law or to healthcare providers following standard protocols until an authorized decision-maker is appointed. In some cases, disagreements among relatives can delay decisions and create stress. Without a designated agent, the family may need to seek court involvement to appoint a surrogate decision-maker, which can be time-consuming and costly.Creating an advance directive prevents these scenarios by naming an agent and specifying preferences in advance. Even a simple, properly executed directive can save family members from difficult legal procedures and ensure decisions are made by someone you trust rather than by default rules or court appointment.
Can I include organ donation or other specific instructions in my directive?
Yes, you can include organ donation preferences and other specific instructions in your advance directive or on state registries. If organ donation is important to you, recording that decision clearly and registering with state or national organ donor programs helps ensure your wishes are known. Specific instructions for burial, spiritual practices, or limitations on certain treatments can also be included as long as they are legally permissible and clearly stated.Be mindful that some choices may require additional medical orders or coordination with medical teams. Discuss your specific requests with both your chosen agent and healthcare providers to confirm feasibility and to integrate those preferences into medical records and any relevant registries or forms.
How often should I review and update my advance healthcare documents?
Review your advance healthcare documents every few years and after any significant life change, such as a new medical diagnosis, a major surgery, a change in relationships, or the death or unavailability of a named agent. Regular reviews help ensure the language remains relevant, agents remain appropriate, and medical preferences reflect current views. Periodic updates prevent outdated instructions from causing confusion at critical moments.Even without major changes, a periodic checkup of your directives provides peace of mind. When revisions are needed, ensure new copies are properly executed and distributed to agents, family, and medical providers so the most current version is available when decisions must be made.