How do I change my advance directive?
Advance directives are documents that spell out your medical wishes for end-of-life care. Advance directives include living wills and the appointment of healthcare surrogates. As you get older it is important to revisit and update your advance directives so they properly reflect your intentions.
According to the American Bar Association, there are five “D’s” after which you should revisit your advance directives:
- Decade — When you begin a new decade in your life
- Death — When a loved one passes away
- Divorce — When you get a divorce or experience a big family change
- Diagnosis — When you are diagnosed with a disease or other health condition
- Decline — When you decline in health and lose certain abilities
Under Florida law, you may change or revoke your advance directive in a number of ways. You may sign and date a document that communicates your plan to revoke the directive, you can physically destroy the original, you can orally express your plan to revoke, or you can establish a new advance directive that replaces the old one.
If you have further questions on this topic or wish to set up end-of-life documents, contact our office at (941) 906-1231 to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys.
