Advance Healthcare Directive in Chico, CA

An advance healthcare directive ensures your medical wishes are honored if you ever become unable to speak for yourself. At Caring Wills & Trusts, every complete estate plan includes an attorney-reviewed advance healthcare directive so your family never has to guess — or argue — about what you would have wanted.

  • An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that does two things: it tells medical providers and your family what treatments you do or don’t want if you’re incapacitated, and it designates a trusted person — your healthcare agent — to make medical decisions on your behalf. In California, this document combines what was formerly called a living will and a healthcare proxy into one comprehensive form.

  • Without an advance healthcare directive, doctors are required to do everything possible to keep you alive — regardless of your wishes. Your family may be left making agonizing decisions without any guidance, often during the most stressful moments of their lives. An advance healthcare directive removes that burden and ensures your voice is heard even when you can’t speak.

  • Your advance healthcare directive addresses critical medical situations including life support and resuscitation preferences, artificial nutrition and hydration, pain management and comfort care, organ and tissue donation, and who has authority to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot.

  • Your healthcare agent should be someone who knows you well, understands your values, and can make difficult decisions under pressure. This is typically a spouse, adult child, or close friend. They must be at least 18 years old and cannot be your healthcare provider. Name a backup agent in case your first choice is unavailable.

  • Your advance healthcare directive works alongside four other essential documents in your complete estate plan: a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, a durable power of attorney, and a deed transfer placing your home into your trust. Together these five documents give your family complete protection.

  • We prepare advance healthcare directives and complete estate plans for families throughout Chico, Paradise, Oroville, Yuba City, Marysville, Gridley, Red Bluff, Redding, and surrounding Northern California communities.