Health care directives and living wills are two important documents that address health care decisions. However, they serve distinct purposes and play different roles in an estate plan. If you are considering how you would like to plan for the future, speak with a knowledgeable Illinois estate planning lawyer about how these differ and why you may want to consider both.
What is a Health Care Directive?
A health care directive is the general term for any legal document that includes instructions for your medical care and typically includes several aspects. You can designate a health care agent or proxy who can make decisions for you if you become incapacitated — whether permanently or temporarily — and cannot make or communicate the decisions for yourself. This is someone you need to trust will make choices about medical care based on your preferences, and can advocate for you in end-of-life situations.