Health Care Directives And Living Wills
Last updated on April 16, 2026
Your estate plan should include more than just documents addressing your passing. You should consider thinking about medical emergencies.
Our team of lawyers at Guffey & Kostun Law Group has experience assisting residents of Boca Raton and southeastern Florida with health care directives and living wills. We can use our decades of combined legal experience to help ensure you have protection when you need it the most.
Why You Need Both A Health Care Surrogate And A Living Will
Your living will can outline your medical preferences if you become incapacitated toward the end of your life. Your Designation of Health Care Surrogate identifies the person who makes decisions for you in that situation. You may need both documents to ensure you receive appropriate care after an incapacitating event.
The Relationship Between Living Wills And Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders
In some jurisdictions, living wills or advance directives may include sections regarding resuscitation. In Florida, they are distinct documents.
Your living will can outline your preferences regarding pain management and life-prolonging medical interventions. A Do-Not-Resuscitate Order (DNRO) prevents medical professionals from performing CPR on you.
A living will generally only takes effect if you have a terminal condition or are in a persistent vegetative state. A DNRO takes effect immediately. Depending on the circumstances, you may require both documents.
Do Living Wills From One State Protect You If You Move To Another?
Yes, federal statutes and state laws generally allow one state to recognize valid documents drafted in another. Living wills drafted in another state could be enforceable in Florida, and the same is true of a document drafted in another state before you move to Florida.
However, if you recently relocated to Florida, reviewing your current living will and updating it to align with Florida requirements offers you the best protection possible.
The Benefits Of Drafting A Designation Of Health Care Surrogate
Drafting a Designation of Health Care Surrogate document lets you choose someone you trust to ensure your medical preferences are honored. Prior planning prevents conflict among your family members and reduces the risk of someone pursuing an emergency guardianship if you become incapacitated.
Support Drafting Critical Medical Documents
Whether you need your first living will or want to update documents after moving to Florida, our attorneys are here to help! We can support you with the creation of documents that protect you when you are at your most vulnerable. Schedule an initial consultation with the Guffey & Kostun Law Group team today by calling 561-954-3609 or clicking here.