Health Care Directive
Related Legal Information

OUR LEGAL INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ISSUES REGARDING TO YOUR HEALTH CARE AND PECUNIARY DECISIONS

I may want to donate my organs after my death for use as transplants or scientific research. What should I do?
Fill out a Uniform Donor Card and put it in your wallet. Also make sure you communicate your wishes to your close family members and friends. ...   More details

I named my wife my health care agent several years ago, and now we got divorced. What happens with my Health Care Power of attorney?
Your wife's authority is revoked as soon as you got divorced. In this case, if you named an alternate agent, that person takes over as health care agent. But it is apparently wiser to execute a new document and to make sure your doctor has a new Powe ...   More details

If I don't want a Living Will?
You're not required to have a Living Will if you don't want one, but it's a good idea in order to guarantee that your wishes are followed regarding medical care. Otherwise, your family will have to make difficult decisions or incur large expenses and ...   More details

If I have a living will, do I also need a real "will" or a "living trust?"
Yes, because wills and living trusts deal with financial and legal issues, whereas the living will deals with healthcare issues. ...   More details

New York Health Care Law - A Health Care Agent’s Rights and Obligations Under New York’s Health Care Proxy Law
1. Your Health Care Agent will only have the authority to make decisions related to artificial nutrition and hydration (for example, use of a tube to give you food and water) if you have communicated your wishes to him or her. You may either tell you ...   More details

New York Health Care Law - A LIVING WILL
While New York does not have a statute governing Living Wills, the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, has stated that Living Wills are valid as long as they provide "clear and convincing" evidence of your wishes.9 If you are 18 years of age ...   More details

New York Health Care Law - A LIVING WILL AND A HEALTH CARE PROXY
Q. What is the difference between a Living Will and a Health Care Proxy?
 
Although both a Health Care Proxy and a Living Will are advance directives, they are not the same thing. ...   More details

New York Health Care Law - ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: WHAT ARE THEY?
In New York State, the best way to ensure that your health care wishes are known and honored is to use one or more of the following legal documents, sometimes referred to as “Advance Directives.” Remember, your advance directives will speak for you w ...   More details

New York Health Care Law - CANCELING YOUR ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
An advance directive remains in effect indefinitely unless you cancel it, or include an expiration date, or describe the circumstances that trigger expiration. You can change or cancel your advance directives at any time. It is important to revisit t ...   More details

New York Health Care Law - Choosing a Health Care Agent
Picking your health care agent is a very important decision. Generally, you have the right to appoint any competent adult (18 years of age or older) as your health care agent. Your agent may be your spouse or partner, an adult child, a relative, a cl ...   More details