Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is preparing and documenting your wishes, in case you become seriously ill or incapacitated, through Advance Directives. Advance Directives are legal documents that help your surrogate (i.e., a person or persons you choose) and your medical team determine what treatments you do and do not want should you become unable to communicate your wishes. There are different Advance Directives you can execute, such as a Living Will, Designation of Health Care Surrogate and HIPAA Release Authorization, or a Durable Power of Attorney (to list a few), and any one or combination of these Advance Directives could be a part of your Advance Care Plan. Regardless of which document or documents you choose, everyone—no matter the age—should have an Advance Care Plan in place in case of an emergency. If you already have an Advance Care Plan or Advance Directives, remember to review them routinely so that you always have the most updated version of your wishes in place. If you do not have an Advance Care Plan or any Advance Directives, or need assistance updating these legal documents, Bracho Law can help you decide what course of action is right for you.