There is an important distinction in estate planning between a power of attorney for financial affairs and an advance directive, also known as a power of attorney for health care. Both documents fulfill a similar purpose – appointing an agent to act on your behalf when you are incapable of…
Paying for end-of-life care and final medical expenses can be a major problem for many California residents. California does offer federal Medicaid benefits for poor and disabled residents through the state’s Medi-Cal program. But Medi-Cal has a catch: once a recipient dies, the state is legally obligated (under federal Medicaid…
A conservatorship exists whenever a California probate court determines that a person is not capable of taking care of him or herself or managing his or her finances. In the case of an individual who suffers from a mental disorder, a court may order what is known as an LPS…
A major part of estate planning is deciding how you wish to address quality-of-life issues if and when you suffer a terminal illness. Under current California law, a person has the “right to control the decisions relating to his or her own health care, including the decision to have life-sustaining…
You often hear the term “living will” used to describe a document outlining a person’s wishes in the event they become incapacitated or are otherwise unable to communicate with medical personnel. Actually, a living will is not a will at all. A will-i.e., a last will and testament-is a document…
The recent case of Jahi McMath has renewed the media and ethical debate over the question of when an individual can truly be declared deceased. McMath was a 13-year-old girl declared legally brain dead on December 12th, 2013, in Alameda County. The family contested this diagnosis, claiming she still had…
An advance directive provides your physician and other healthcare providers with instructions regarding your care in the event you are no longer able to make your wishes known. An advance directive also enables you to appoint an agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. It’s important you provide clear…
Conservatorships are often thought of in the context of a person caring for an elderly parent who is no longer capable of making his or her own decisions. But conservatorships can also involve a parent caring for a physically or developmentally disabled adult child. These situations raise complex legal questions…
A power of attorney is an important estate planning tool that authorizes another person to make decisions for you should you become incapable of making them yourself. A health care power of attorney is a document that specifically applies to decisions regarding your personal care, treatment and maintenance. Health care…
There is no easy way to deal with the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of a battle against cancer. But being fully informed about the treatment options and legal ramifications of certain medical decisions is a good start. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of confusion regarding cancer treatments, even…