Skilled New York Advance Health Care Directives Attorneys

Advance directives provide instructions about your health care preferences when you cannot communicate your wishes due to incapacity or terminal illness. Without these documents, family members face agonizing decisions from not knowing your preferences, and health care providers may administer treatments you would have refused.

At Asterita & Associates, LLC, we assist clients in Staten Island and beyond with creating customized advance directive documents and other estate planning strategies protecting their autonomy and preferences. Our attorneys understand New York law requirements and the importance of properly drafted legal instruments giving you control over end-of-life health care decisions.

What Are The Three Types Of Advance Directives In New York?

New York recognizes three primary advance directive forms allowing individuals to document health care preferences and designate decision-makers:

• Health Care Proxy: This document appoints a trusted individual, called your health care agent, to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to communicate. Your agent works with physicians to make treatment choices aligned with your values and preferences. New York law requires two witnesses for health care proxies but does not require notarization.
• Living Will: While not statutorily recognized in New York, living wills express your preferences regarding life-sustaining treatment if you develop terminal conditions or enter persistent vegetative states. These documents guide health care agents and physicians about your wishes concerning artificial nutrition, hydration, mechanical ventilation and resuscitation. Although not legally binding like health care proxies, living wills provide valuable guidance reflecting your values.
• Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR): This physician-signed order instructs emergency medical personnel and health care providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if your heart stops or you stop breathing. New York offers standard DNR forms and nonhospital DNR orders for patients receiving home care or residing in nursing facilities.

These three documents work together to create comprehensive health care planning to address various medical scenarios you may encounter.

Why Are Advance Directives Important?

Advance directives prevent family conflicts by clearly stating your wishes, reduce stress on loved ones who might otherwise guess your preferences and protect your autonomy by directing care according to your values. Without these documents, health care decisions default to family members who may disagree about appropriate treatments or lack knowledge of your true wishes.

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Contact Our New York Estate Planning Lawyers

To discuss creating advance directives or other New York estate planning documents, contact us at 877-589-3177 or through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.