Designation of Health Care Surrogate: An Essential Estate Planning Tool

We’re often asked by clients how they can ensure their medical wishes are carried out if they can’t express them personally due to an illness or injury. The designation of a Health Care Surrogate is an essential Estate Planning tool that addresses this concern by giving a person (or persons) you select the legal ability to make medical decisions on your behalf. Your Designation of Health Care Surrogate can be made effective immediately at time of signing, or it can be prepared to become effective only if you cannot make decisions for yourself due to incapacity.

The Florida Health Care Surrogate Act allows your surrogate to make medical decisions for you when you are unable, to access your private health information, and to communicate with healthcare professionals on your behalf. If you make the document effective immediately, your surrogate can make decisions for you, even if have capacity, but you retain the legal right to override their decisions. There are numerous guidelines and protocols that medical professionals follow to ensure that your healthcare wishes are being followed. It is of utmost importance that you have current Designation of Healthcare Surrogate forms in place to ensure that you are communicating your medical wishes clearly and in compliance with Florida Statutes.

If you need help with creating your Designation of Health Care Surrogate, or if you want to follow up and make sure that your current Estate Planning documents are up-to-date, please do not delay and set an appointment with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate, and caring Elder Law Attorneys.

With offices in Orange Park, Jacksonville, Julington Creek, and St. Augustine, our Elder Law Attorneys help clients have peace of mind about their healthcare wishes being followed.

We are your Florida First Coast Elder Law Attorneys