Health Care Decisions

Trust Our Poughkeepsie Elder Law Attorneys

It is an unfortunate reality that many people experience some degree of incapacitation at one point or another. At this stage of a prolonged or sudden illness, it may become impossible for individuals to articulate their wishes as far as the care they prefer to receive.

Empowering a trusted person to make health care decisions on your behalf can bring peace of mind to you and your family. The Poughkeepsie estate planning attorneys at Klein & Sanchez, P.C. have more than 80 years of experience handling family law and estate planning cases. We can help you record your health care decisions in advance.

Call our office at (845) 203-2287 for a free consultation.

Helping You Document Decisions

At Klein & Sanchez, P.C. , our skilled estate planning lawyers stay on top of any changes to the laws governing elder care. In 2010, the state of New York enacted the Family Health Care Decisions Act, which allows family members to make decisions on behalf of incapacitated patients who have not made other arrangements, such as advance directives or power of attorney.

The Family Health Care Decisions Act calls on surrogate decision-makers in the following order of priority:

• A court-appointed guardian
• A spouse or domestic partner
• An adult child
• A parent
• A sibling
• A close friend

Because of this, it is crucial to discuss choices such as life-sustaining treatment and DNR orders with family members or other trusted persons in the company of an experienced estate planning attorney.