Estate Planning

Healthcare Directives

Your medical wishes, honored. Your family, spared the hardest decisions.

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Two documents that work together

A healthcare proxy names someone you trust — usually your spouse or an adult child — to make medical decisions if you're unable to communicate your wishes. In Massachusetts, your healthcare proxy has legal authority to consent to or refuse treatment, request information, access your medical records, and make decisions about end-of-life care.

A living will (also called an advance directive) documents your own wishes about life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation (CPR), and organ donation. It puts your values on paper so your family and doctors know what you want, even if you can't say it yourself.

Together, these documents give your family a roadmap and give your healthcare proxy the legal authority they need to carry out your wishes. Neither one works as well without the other — and neither one should sit in a drawer. Your family and your doctors need to know these documents exist.

Key Differences

Healthcare Proxy
Names a person to make decisions for you
Living Will
Documents your personal medical wishes
Both Matter
Together they ensure clarity and legal authority
Share Them
Family and doctors must know they exist

Who Needs Healthcare Directives?

Every Adult, Age 18+

Medical emergencies don't wait. Even a young, healthy person needs these documents in place.

People with Health Conditions

Chronic illness, upcoming surgery, or family history of illness make healthcare planning especially important.

Parents of Adult Children

If your adult child is in a medical crisis, you can't automatically make decisions without their proxy in place.

Anyone with Strong Convictions

Religious beliefs, ethical values, or firm wishes about end-of-life care deserve to be documented.

What's Included

1

Discuss Your Medical Wishes

We talk about your values, beliefs, and what kind of medical care matters to you — no judgment, just clarity.

2

Choose Your Healthcare Proxy

Name the person you trust most to advocate for your care and make decisions aligned with your values.

3

Draft Healthcare Proxy

We create a Massachusetts-compliant healthcare proxy document with clear authority for your agent.

4

Draft Living Will/Advance Directive

Document your wishes about life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, and organ donation.

5

Review, Sign & Witness

We review everything together and handle proper signing with witnesses so it's legally valid.

6

Share & Store Guidance

We advise you on sharing with family, doctors, and hospitals — and where to keep copies safe.

Related Services

Powers of Attorney

A financial power of attorney works alongside your healthcare directives for complete protection.

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Estate Planning

Your healthcare directives are part of a complete estate plan that covers all scenarios.

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Wills & Trusts

Healthcare directives pair with your will or trust to create a complete picture of your wishes.

Learn More

Make your medical wishes known

Don't leave your family guessing. Get your healthcare directives in place today.

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