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Healthcare Directives

The occasion for estate planning is also the time to establish legal documents specifying who will make health care decisions for you if you are incapacitated, as well as to express your wishes concerning end of life care. A proper estate plan will include a Health Care Power of Attorney (specifying who will make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make these decisions for yourself), an Advance Directive for a Natural Death (also called a Living Will, indicating your desires as to the withdrawal of life-support systems, artificial nutrition and artificial hydration, in certain end-of-life situations) and a HIPAA Authorization Form (specifying who should have access to your protected health information and enabling loved ones to speak with your physician concerning your condition).