Living Wills and Healthcare Proxy

Many of us witnessed the Terri Schiavo tragedy, about a young woman who was mentally incapacitated but did not have a living will or healthcare proxy. Her husband said that they had discussed end-of-life issues. During the discussion, she confided in him that she would not want to live under those circumstances and would not want to be placed on life support. Her parents claimed she was a devout Catholic and would never consent to anything that would end up killing her.

This legal battle could have been avoided if she had a living will or healthcare proxy, sparing her husband and parents years of agony, and ending with resentment. This vital piece of legal information can be the difference of life and death.

What Is the Difference between a Living Will and a Healthcare Proxy?

In New York, there is a difference between a living will and healthcare proxy. A living will is a document that instructs what medical resources may or may not be used to resuscitate you or sustain your life in the event you become incapacitated.

A healthcare proxy is a document that gives authority to a person whom you designate to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

Living wills and healthcare proxies are an excellent way to anticipate and plan for a catastrophic event. It will ensure that your wishes are known and carried out if you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to make a medical decision.

As an experienced estate-planning attorney, Eric Gansberg can assist you in drafting a living will and a healthcare proxy to address any future medical situations where you are unable to instruct doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals. This simple process can save years of agony and suffering.

Eric M. Gansberg is here to help ensure that your needs are met and will legally represent you in the case of a living will or healthcare proxy crisis! He has a solid background and the experience to make sure that your needs are met first and foremost. Choose Eric M. Gansberg for your attorney needs in Straten Island!

Estate Planning Law

Estate planning is a comprehensive plan to pass your property on while minimizing tax consequences and reducing liability exposure in case of a catastrophic event. In short, this means your assets will be protected in the event that something happens to you.

Contrary to popular belief, estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Anybody who has a large amount of profitable assets should consider estate planning. Estate planning also can direct someone to make financial medical decisions on your behalf should be unable to do so.

Estate planning uses many tools and devises to accomplish your goals, including the following:

Legal Wills - including simple wills and pour over wills
Trusts - including revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, living trusts, and charitable trusts
Living Wills and Healthcare Proxies - these devices deal with medical attention and decision making should you be incapacitated
Elder Law - including Medicare and Medicaid planning, and nursing home planning
Guardianships - for your children's care
Powers of Attorney - to give someone total or limited authority to make decisions on your behalf
Life Estates - to allow you or someone to be in possession of property or assets during yours (or their) lifetime, before being passed on to your designated heir

Eric Gansberg has been assisting clients throughout the Staten Island-New York City area with their estate plans for over twenty years. They understand your needs and can assist you in achieving your goals and analyzing the available tools to determine the best combination to allow you to achieve those goals.

Eric M. Gansberg is your #1 source for wills and living trusts in the Straten Island area including: Heartland Village, Livingston, and New Dorp. He has a solid record and experience to make sure your interests are met first! Choose Eric Gansberg for your attorney needs!