Central Florida Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles of the Villages
Related Articles
Communication is essential if you are in a medical situation where you must make important decisions about your life. An advanced directive is a legal document that allows an individual to designate medical decisions and actions to be implemented should they become unable to make sound decisions.
Living Will
An advanced directive includes a Living Will. This document’s goal is to make personal medical decisions concerning future events while the person signing it is still able to do so. Many times, when individuals are incapacitated or unable to communicate, such as with a coma or in an emergency situation like cardiac failure or a stroke, a Living Will controls whether or not they are resuscitated, given certain pain medication or put on life support.
Healthcare Proxy
Another advanced directive is a Healthcare Proxy. This legal document allows individuals to appoint a specific person to be in control of any future medical conditions that might arise if they become incapacitated. Long-term care facilities and hospice choices are also controlled by this document. When designating a Healthcare Proxy, the signor can and should entrust all of his Living Will requests and any other advanced directives in the proxy’s control. Healthcare Proxies are also known as Healthcare Powers of Attorney.
It’s Best to Have Both
Being proactive about planning for future medical events is critical. It allows you peace of mind so that you are certain to receive the care you want, and it also makes it much easier on family members so they don’t have to guess what you would prefer or argue with other loved ones about what’s best for you in a difficult situation. Having both a Living Will and an appointed Healthcare Proxy is the safest way to prepare for your future and doing so with a legal counsel is imperative. In the even that your wishes conflict with those of the Healthcare Proxy designee, your decisions take precedence, so it’s important to keep both documents together to give doctors and other medical personnel a complete picture of your directives.
Estate Planning
Estate planning services available through The Law Offices of Daniel Waldman include the drafting of wills, trusts, living wills, and powers of attorney. They customize the documents to match the needs of the clients, provide for their children, dependents and intended beneficiaries, and reduce the impact of estate taxes.
Daniel Waldman
Founding Partner
Daniel Waldman graduated from Harvard Law School. While in law school, Daniel volunteered in a legal clinic where he helped veterans and underprivileged members of society in family law and estate planning matters. Daniel also graduated summa cum laude from UCLA, having majored in Political Science with a concentration on international relations.
Experience
Before attending UCLA, Daniel was a staff sergeant in the Israeli Defense Force. As an attorney, Daniel practiced at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, focusing mostly on corporate income tax and large-scale securitization taxation issues and dedicating most of his pro bono hours serving veterans and veteran-related charities in their legal needs.
The Law Offices of Daniel Waldman
At The Law Offices of Daniel Waldman, we are a new kind of law firm for a changing world. We are consistent, patient and professional, giving each new client the attention, they deserve. An integral part of our services is to work closely with our clients so that they can make the right decisions with respect to their legal needs.
Our experienced and innovative lawyers bring a whole universe of experience and knowledge to each case. We understand that the world is constantly changing, and you may be confronted by a confusing array of regulations, questions, and occasional disputes. Check out our areas of expertise and call us with your legal questions today. We have English and Hebrew speaking attorneys on staff.
Daniel Waldman – Trust, Wills, and Estate Planning
3210 Cove Bend Drive
Tampa, Florida 33613
(813) 756-7776
daniel@danielwaldmanlaw.com
www.danielwaldmanlaw.com