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What is a Health Care Proxy

One of the legal documents your estate planning lawyer should recommend is a health care proxy. Also known as a medical power of attorney, this is the document that will name a friend or family member to make health care decisions if you are unable to do so.

Can You Specify Treatment Decsisions in a Health Care Proxy?

In some states you can make a living will that specifies what treatment decisions you would make. This can include saying whether or not you want life sustaining treatment and under what circumstances.

Massachusetts does not recognize living wills. Our state law does recognize a health care proxy and doctors will honor the decisions of your health care agent or proxy. It is still a good idea to go through the exercise of thinking about what you would or would not want if you are unable to make decisions. This can serve as a valuable guide to the person you identify as a proxy.

Also, if something happened to you in another state that does recognize living wills, that document could avoid unnecessary or unwanted medical decisions.

Need Help With a Health Care Proxy?

Call (781) 784-2322
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Schedule a Free Information Call

Wondering How to Get Started With a Health Care Proxy?

Our Solutions Roadmap is a quick and easy way to share some information about your situation and your goals and receive preliminary feedback from a member of our team.  Use the button below to get started- it is 100% confidential and 100% free.
Tell Us What's On Your Mind

Does the Health Care Proxy Authorize Financial Decisions?

A health care proxy does not authorize anyone to make financial decisions on your behalf. If you would like to name someone to do that, you should ask your attorney about either a springing or durable power of attorney.

When Should You Have a Health Care Proxy?

Once you become an adult, you are never too young to consider a health care proxy. Many people think of this as an issue for the elderly or terminally ill. The truth is anyone can be incapacitated by illness or injury, even if it is temporary.

For parents, remember that as soon as your child turns 18 you no longer have the blanket legal authority to make decisions about medical treatment that you did when they were young. It is a good idea to have your young adult fill out and sign a health care proxy document, especially before they go off to college or move out of state. This means if they get sick or are in an accident and are unable to communicate their decisions, you at least know that they have someone trustworthy to do that for them.

How Our Estate Planning Lawyers Can Help

Estate Planning Jenna Ordway slnlaw MA
Estate Plan Jenna Ordway slnlaw MA
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Estate Planning in Massachusetts
We are ready to help.  We understand this can be a difficult issue to tackle, so we have designed our process to make it as easy as possible for you to get the plan in place that protects you and your family and accomplishes your goals.  You can use the button below to schedule a free information call, or simply give us a call at  781-784-2322.
Schedule a Free Information Call

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  • Home
  • Employment Law
    • Guide To Employment Law Content
    • Advice for Employers >
      • Hiring Independent Contractors in Massachusetts
      • Termination Best Practices
      • Workplace Discrimination Employer Guide
      • Employee Handbook >
        • Employee Handbook Basics
      • Paid Family Leave and Your Small Business
      • Overtime Law for Employers
      • Employee Complaints About Pay
      • Employee Non Competes
    • Advice for Employees >
      • Discrimination in the Workplace
      • Sexual Harassment at Work >
        • Sexual Harassment Resources
        • Sexual Harassment in a Small Business
        • Constructive Discharge
        • Sexual Harassment and Non Disclosure Agreements
        • Sexual Harassment and Remote Work
        • Sexual Harassment Case Studies
      • Massachusetts Paid Family Leave
      • Non Compete Agreements >
        • Are non competes enforceable
        • Massachusetts Non Compete Act
        • Pre 2018 Massachusetts Non Competes
        • Non Compete Case Studies
        • Can I Avoid My Non Compete
      • Independent Contractor Law >
        • Independent Contractor Test
        • Working As Independent Contractor
        • Independent Contractor Case Studies
        • Independent Contractor Roadmap
      • Wage and Hour Laws >
        • Massachusetts Minimum Wage
        • Overtime Law >
          • Overtime Exemptions
          • Employee Travel Time
          • Federal or State Overtime Law
        • Overtime Law Case Studies
        • Massachusetts Wage Act >
          • Payment of Commissions
          • Wage Deductions
          • Late Payment of Wages
          • Paid Time Off
        • Wage Act Case Studies
        • What Are Your Wage and Hour Rights
      • Employment Contracts in Massachusetts >
        • Restrictive Covenants
        • Promissory Estoppel
      • Employment Termination >
        • Severance Pay
        • Should I Accept a Severance?
      • Do I Have a Case?
    • Unemployment in Massachusetts >
      • Unemployment Overpayment
      • Pandemic Unemployment
      • Unemployment Case Studies
  • Estate Planning
    • Guide To Estate Planning Content
    • Legacy Protection >
      • Why You Need an Estate Plan >
        • Why You Don't Have an Estate Plan
      • Massachusetts Estate Tax
      • Asset Protection Trusts
      • Children with Special Needs
      • Planning for Assisted Living
    • Is Your Will Enough >
      • Special Circumstances >
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for a Non Citizen Spouse
        • Estate Planning and Divorce
        • Estate Planning for Small Business Owners
      • Surviving Spouse's Share
      • Disinheriting Children Massachusetts
      • Updating Your Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning Documents >
      • What is a Trust >
        • Revocable trust
        • Irrevocable trust
        • Irrevocable vs revocable trust
      • Last Will and Testament
      • Durable Power of Attorney
      • Massachusetts Health Care Proxy
      • Life Estates in Massachusetts
      • Massachusetts Pet Trust
    • Probate Process >
      • Non Probate Assets
  • Business Law
    • Guide To Business Law Content
    • Small Business Law
    • Business Contract Basics
    • Civil Suit Defense
    • Legal Issues for Start Ups
    • Trademark Basics
    • How to Incorporate
    • Sale of Business
  • About
    • Reviews
    • Slnlaw Offices
    • slnlaw core values
    • Publications and Interviews
    • New Client Intake and Consultation
    • Contact
  • Attorneys
    • Emily Smith-Lee >
      • 2018 Lawyer of the Year
    • Rebecca Rogers
    • Sharleen Tinnin
    • Elijah Bresley
  • Legal FAQs
    • Estate Planning FAQs
    • Probate FAQs
    • Small Business FAQs
    • Wage Act FAQs
    • Commission Pay FAQs
    • Overtime FAQs
    • Independent Contractor FAQs
    • Non Compete FAQs
    • Employment Discrimination FAQs
    • Employment Termination FAQs
    • Massachusettts Unemployment FAQs
    • Severance Package FAQs
    • Medical Leave FAQs
    • Sexual Harassment FAQs
    • Employer FAQs
    • Civil Lawsuit FAQs
  • Blog