Living Wills & Powers of Attorney

Attorneys Helping You Plan Ahead

The prospect of being unable to care for yourself due to a debilitating condition, a coma or another medical circumstance can be frightening. But by planning ahead, you can put your mind at ease that your wishes will be honored to the greatest extent possible.

At Armstrong & Lowe, P.C., in Tulsa, our lawyers help clients draft living wills and powers of attorney, either in conjunction with their overall estate plans or separately. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation.

Expressing Your Wishes Regarding Life-Saving Measures

A living will — technically known in Oklahoma as an advance directive for health care — is a document designed to ensure that your end-of-life health care wishes are known and respected if you become unable to personally participate in health care decisions.

One major element of a living will is a description of the life-saving medical treatments that you do or do not want performed on you. Another major element is the appointment of a health care proxy — the person responsible for consulting with your doctor and approving or disapproving treatment based on your wishes.

If you do not have a living will, someone else will end up making these decisions for you. A living will keeps you in charge of your medical treatment.

Putting Your Care in the Hands of Someone You Trust

A power of attorney is a document that allows a person chosen by you to take care of your affairs if you are incapacitated. It can be general in scope or limited to specific areas of authority.

If you are concerned that you will eventually lose the ability to handle your financial or personal affairs, a power of attorney allows you to decide who will be responsible for caring for you. With a power of attorney, your family will not have to seek a court-appointed guardianship over you if you lose the capacity to care for yourself.

We understand that decisions about living wills and powers of attorney are personal and sensitive. Contact us to get honest, skilled advice about the law so that you and your family can make these decisions on an informed basis.