Living Wills & Advance Directives Lawyer in Needham, MA

Planning for a potential health crisis is one of the most personal and challenging steps in the elder law process. Advance directives are the legal tools that allow you to articulate your medical wishes and appoint a trusted decision-maker if you become unable to speak for yourself.

At Lannik Law, we guide clients in the Greater Boston area, Cape Cod, Needham, and Mashpee through the completion of these essential documents. They enable your core values, such as your preference for quality of life over aggressive intervention, to be respected by doctors and family members alike.

With over four decades of experience in estate planning, Certified Elder Law Attorney Lannik brings exceptional professionalism and personalized care to individuals and families in the area. At our firm, the focus is on you, your needs, goals, and future. Our mission is to bring peace of mind through proper and individualized estate planning and healthcare strategies.

Schedule a consultation with our Needham & Mashpee living wills and advance directives attorney by contacting us online or at (781) 303-9594. We offer virtual meetings for your convenience. 

What Are Advance Directives?

Advance directives are documents that communicate your healthcare preferences and wishes. In Massachusetts, this concept encompasses two distinct, yet complementary, tools.

Health Care Proxy (The Decision-Maker)

• This is the legally binding document recognized by Massachusetts statute.
• It appoints a specific person (your Health Care Agent) to make medical decisions on your behalf if your doctor determines you lack the capacity to do so yourself.
• Your Agent has the authority to approve or refuse any medical treatment, surgery, or course of care. This document is crucial because it names a single voice to prevent conflict among family members.

Living Will (Your Voice)

A Living Will is a written statement detailing your specific preferences regarding end-of-life medical treatments, such as mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, dialysis, and resuscitation (CPR).

• Crucially, a Living Will is not legally binding under Massachusetts law.
• However, it is an essential part of your plan. It serves as "clear and convincing evidence" of your wishes and acts as a powerful guide for your Health Care Agent and doctors. It clarifies your values, enabling your Agent to make decisions that align with what you truly want.

Turn to Lannik Law for the Help You Need

While basic forms for a Health Care Proxy are available, working with an experienced elder law attorney brings about customized, legally compliant, and strategically effective documents. 

Our Customization Process

• Clarifying your preferences: We conduct in-depth discussions with you to understand your values regarding specific life-sustaining treatments, your preferred care settings (home vs. hospice), and your goals for quality of life. Thus, your Living Will (or "Personal Wishes Statement") will truly reflect your beliefs.
• Drafting the Health Care Proxy: Your Health Care Proxy is executed precisely in accordance with Massachusetts law, including the requirement for two adult, non-interested witnesses. We help you select and name successor agents in case your primary choice is unavailable.
• Coordination with the estate plan: We integrate these healthcare documents with your overall estate plan, aligning them with your Durable Power of Attorney (financial) and any trusts you have established. This coordinated approach prevents contradictory instructions.
• Precise language: We include specific language in your Health Care Proxy that clarifies your Agent's authority to access medical records (HIPAA release) and manage care transitions, which is often missing from simple, generic forms.