A standard practice during any estate-planning session is for the lawyer to go over the various documents that are known as advance directives to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the client in anticipation of some type of illness or incapacity. Without such documents in place, the law will determine who it is that will make decisions for you in the event you cannot make them yourself. The decision made by a circuit court judge or a hospital may not be the one that you would make for yourself.

At The Law Office of Thomas G. Tripp, I can provide you with the sound counsel and experienced representation you need to protect your rights and interests. I draft living wills and other advance directives for individuals and families throughout the Pinellas County-St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay area.

What Is a Living Will?

A living will is a written statement regarding the level of treatment, if any, you would desire in the event that you are suffering from an illness or injury under circumstances that you are unable to make decisions on your own. Examples of times when you could not make decisions on your own would be if you are in a persistent vegetative state, an end stage condition or some other terminal condition.

We in Pinellas County know what can happen when a person does not have a living will. In 1998, the husband of Terri Schiavo petitioned the 6th Circuit Court of Florida to remove a feeding tube that was being used to sustain Terri’s life. Terri’s parents opposed the petition. The legal battle lasted until 2005, when Terri’s feeding tube was removed. The dispute could have been avoided if Terri had completed a living will.

Learn more about durable powers of attorney and designation of health care surrogate advance directives.