Living Wills & Advance Directives in Lebanon

Personalized Advance Directive Planning With Direct Attorney Attention

A serious illness or unexpected injury can leave you unable to communicate your health care choices. Living wills and advance directives let you document treatment preferences and name someone to make decisions during incapacity. We prepare these documents as part of a personalized estate plan, not as forms to complete without context.

At Vasek & Robbins, we take time to understand your values, the decisions you want to address, and the person you trust to speak for you. We then prepare clear documents that reflect your wishes and comply with Tennessee execution requirements.

Call (615) 703-2745 to discuss creating or reviewing an Advance Directive for Health Care.

What a Tennessee Advance Directive for Health Care Can Address

Tennessee’s Advance Directive for Health Care can combine treatment instructions with the appointment of a health care agent. This person may make health care decisions when you can’t make or communicate them yourself, subject to your documented instructions and known wishes.

An advance directive may address choices involving:

• CPR and artificial support: Your preferences concerning efforts to restart breathing or circulation and the use of artificial support.
• Life-sustaining treatment: Instructions about treatment intended to prolong life under circumstances identified in the document.
• Tube feeding: Your wishes regarding artificially provided nutrition and hydration.
• New medical conditions: Directions concerning treatment for conditions that arise while you’re unable to communicate.
• Additional instructions: Other health care wishes, values, or limits you want providers and your agent to understand.

How a particular instruction applies can depend on the document’s language, your medical circumstances, and the judgment of treating providers. We explain the legal role of each provision so you can make informed choices while recognizing that medical decisions may depend on the facts at the time.

How Current Tennessee Forms Relate to Older Directives

Tennessee has historically recognized living wills, also called advance care plans, and medical powers of attorney that appoint health care agents. Since May 9, 2017, the state’s model Advance Directive for Health Care has combined treatment preferences and agent appointments in one form.

An older living will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care may remain effective, depending on how it was prepared and executed. Reviewing it can clarify whether the document still reflects your wishes, names the right decision-maker, and uses terminology that providers can readily understand.

Choosing the Right Health Care Agent

Your agent should understand your values, be willing to follow your instructions, and be reasonably available when a decision is required. Legal authority alone isn’t enough. The person should also be comfortable asking providers questions and making difficult choices based on what you want.

Naming an alternate provides another decision-maker if your first choice can’t or won’t serve. Before signing, discuss your preferences with both people. Conversations with close family members and health care providers can further reduce uncertainty when the document is needed.

How to Sign & Safeguard an Advance Directive

Tennessee’s model form provides two execution options: signing before two competent adult witnesses or acknowledging the document before a notary public. An appointed agent or alternate can’t serve as a witness. At least one witness must also confirm that they aren’t related to the person signing by blood, marriage, or adoption and aren’t entitled to any portion of that person’s estate.

Once the document is signed, keep the original where it can be found and give copies to those who may need it, including your agent, alternate, physician, and hospital. Review it after significant health, family, or relationship changes to confirm that it remains consistent with your wishes.

Coordinating Health Care Directives With Your Estate Plan

An advance directive governs health care decisions. It doesn’t replace documents addressing finances, property management, estate distribution, or probate. A coordinated plan may also include a financial power of attorney, will, trust, and beneficiary designations.

We assist with living wills, powers of attorney, wills, trusts, probate, and related planning needs. J. Michael Robbins has experience in estate planning and trust and probate litigation. By maintaining a limited client roster, we provide direct communication and careful attention to each client’s priorities.

Create a Health Care Plan That Reflects Your Wishes

We can prepare a new directive, review an older document, or coordinate your health care instructions with the rest of your estate plan. Clear, properly executed documents can give your chosen decision-makers practical guidance if illness, injury, or incapacity prevents you from speaking for yourself.

Call (615) 703-2745 to speak with Vasek & Robbins about personalized advance directive planning in Lebanon.