Plan It Now™ - Advance Directive Documents for New Young Adults

The first goal of any parent is to raise independent, caring and capable children who become productive contributing members of their greater community. The occurrence of a child's 18th birthday does not suddenly bestow upon them the ability to handle any issue the world can create without the assistance and advice of their parents, no matter how well prepared their parents have made them. With a child's 18th birthday does come the legal right to self-determination and privacy, whether they want it or are ready for it. Most young adults we encounter desire to have medical information available to their parents in the case of a catastrophic event that would render the young adult incapable of acting on their own behalf. This requires the execution of certain legal documents, including a Designation of Health Care Surrogate and a HIPAA waiver form designating the parents to access the information or make decisions if the young adult lacks the capacity to do so. There is no requirement that the young adult sign the documents if this is not their desire.

The Designation of Health Care Surrogate document allows individuals to choose representatives who will make vital health care decisions when they are unable to make those decisions for themselves.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, requires doctors and other health care providers to get written authorization from a patient before they can share health information about the patient with a "third party." A HIPAA waiver form allows said health care professionals to release health information to the named individuals.

A Living Will specifies an individual's wishes regarding all life sustaining devices and near-death decisions. The Living Will should be revised continuously to remain current with new and evolving laws.

The Durable Power of Attorney provides legal authority for an individual's designee to act on the individual's behalf in financial matters.

As a service to the community, Morris Law Group is now making these critical documents available, free of charge. Click here to download the documents.