The Kindest Gift You Can Give Through Your Estate Plan Is A Medical Directive

Creating a Last Will and Testament and/or an Estate Plan is a forward-thinking and loving act.

Within your estate plan, the kindest gift you can make to your loved ones is to include a medical directive.

A Medical Directive in your estate plan removes the burden of having them make difficult decisions about your health care should you become incapacitated.

A Medical Directive created by you while you are still of sound mind and body takes all the guesswork out of how you wish to be treated at the end of your life.

Sometimes the term Advance Directive is used interchangeably with Medical Directive. Despite the name used, it’s a legal document that covers health care and protects your wishes at the end of your life.

A Gift For The People You Love

Planning for the end of your life starts with you, but it’s really about the people you love. It’s about your children, your spouse or partner, and even your parents.

The financial gifts you leave behind will be appreciated. But the greatest gift is clarity. When you document your wishes, you spare your loved ones from making painful healthcare decisions.

That kind of planning leaves a lasting impact. It brings peace of mind and may inspire others to take the same steps in their own lives.

Two Parts To A Medical Directive

As the COVID-19 continues to impact daily life, more people recognize the need for end-of-life planning. Creating a medical directive is a key step.

A medical directive has two main parts. First, you name a medical power of attorney. This person can make healthcare decisions if you cannot. Choose someone you trust to follow your wishes.

Second, you create a living will. This document outlines how you want to be treated by medical professionals. You can accept or refuse specific treatments. This includes decisions about resuscitation, breathing machines, dialysis, tube feeding, and organ donation.

Make sure your chosen decision-maker understands your preferences. They must be prepared to advocate for you, even under pressure from others. Choosing the right person is the most important part of this process.

Estate Planning Not Just For The Rich

As the COVID-19 has shown, estate planning is not just for the wealthy. It’s not about how much you own. It’s about making decisions others should not have to make for you.

Only you know how you want to be treated if you cannot speak for yourself. When you document those wishes, you give your loved ones clarity and relief. We see that peace of mind with clients every day.

This is a decision best made sooner rather than later. If you want to add a medical directive or create an estate plan, contact our office to get started.

Looking to find an experienced estate lawyer in the Georgia area who is skilled in asset protection and estate plan preparation? Shannon Pawley is an attorney in Georgia with expertise in estate planning and asset protection. Shannon can provide assistance with creating an estate plan to include making a will and how to establish a trust properly. If you have questions about asset protection or questions about making an estate plan, reach out to Shannon and she will be glad to help answer all the estate planning questions you might have!

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My father and I recently used the estate, an asset protection, law, firm for new wheels, new, power of attorney’s, and a creation of a trust. Brooke and her entire team could not have been more helpful and more professional! We loved working with them, and they took everything seriously therefore I didn’t have to worry about a thing. I highly recommend everyone at the law firm.

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01:22 01 Jul 23

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Shannon provided invaluable information regarding a family estate matter. Although her firm did not quite fit our immediate needs, the consultation was informative and extremely HELPFUL! Shannon clearly explained what our next steps should be and offered to assist if we had any questions along the way. Her expertise and willingness to help puts her in a league of her own!

Alice Guppy

02:01 23 Jan 23

Shannon and everyone at The Estate and Asset Protection Law Firm are professional, very knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. They answered all our questions in great detail and the plan they developed for us is exactly what we need to protect our assets and estate as we age especially with my husband's health issues.

Lynn McKibbin-Moore

23:09 24 Feb 22

My husband has dementia. This firm has been patient, kind and professional while we went through a move from a house of 37 years in to a condo to be closer to my daughter and her husband. (Miami to Atlanta). There was also a wedding. All in 6 months.
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22:03 29 Jan 22

Shannon Pawley and her team are exceptional at helping families navigate tough situations. We began working with her upon finding out my father had Stage 4 kidney cancer. His decline was more rapid than expected.
Attorney Pawley and her entire team expedited paperwork that allowed me to focus on my father’s care, make decisions that suddenly needed to be made for him medically and financially, and has allowed me the ability to focus more on grieving and less on legal matters upon his passing.
It is obvious she is knowledgeable about the best ways to navigate estates to protect the assets for the owners and their loved ones. It is just as obvious that she is passionate and has true heart for what her clients go through.
We will be using her for own estate needs, and I recommend her expertise to everybody I can.
This service is worth every penny we paid as it has saved us more money and time than I could imagine.

H Jessie Brewer

18:26 18 Nov 21

Attorney Shannon Pawley and paralegal Alexis McCoy are legal professionals that my wife and I highly recommend. Their grasp of the Georgia law pertaining to Medicaid assistance and the interworking's of the State department is exceptional. Additionally, their client-attorney relationship skills are excellent. We wouldn't hesitate to use this law firm again should the need arise.

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15:06 13 Nov 21

Shannon and her team are the best! They listened to my needs and provided the best advice. They are patient and professional as well as personable, they didn't make me feel like I was just another client. Highly recommend!