How We Advise Clients About “Five Wishes”
You probably have bumped into the “Five Wishes” document before. It is widely promoted, and viewed favorably by most professionals and users. You can order a paper copy of the Five Wishes workbook and form for (as of this writing) $5.00. Or, for $15.00, you can get an electronic version that lets you complete the […]
Arizona Advance Directive Registry is Moving
If you signed your health care directives with Fleming & Curti, PLC, in the past decade or so, you probably already know about the Arizona advance directive registry. It gives you an easy — and free — way to store your health care power of attorney, living will or pre-hospital medical care directive online. For […]
Bad Things Can Happen with PoAs: An Illustration
Powers of attorney are powerful tools, ones that can be easily misused. We’re often warned that bad things can happen with a financial power: the agent can take all the money. But we’re not often told bad things can happen with medical powers, too. This week, we share a cautionary tale inspired by a client […]
Arizona’s Statutory Health Care Power of Attorney
Like many states, Arizona has included a statutory health care power of attorney in its law. That means the legislature has written a power of attorney form for you. You can fill it out, sign it and have it witnessed, and you have a completely valid document. The Arizona Attorney General’s office has even made […]
Arizona Health Care Directives: A Primer
At Fleming & Curti, PLC, we see a lot of confusion about Arizona health care directives. Many of our clients are unsure about whether they have signed a living will, or whether they need to sign new documents when they are admitted to the hospital. Many people have a hard time understanding Arizona’s unique “Prehospital […]
What Luke Perry Taught Us About Advance Directives
Although death sometimes arrives with plenty of warning, often there is none. Estate planning, of course, tries to provide a roadmap for both scenarios. The truth is, having an estate plan doesn’t always mean things go smoothly, and when things go smoothly, it’s not always because there was an estate plan. Take Luke Perry. After […]
Dad (Mom), We Need to Talk
FEBRUARY 22, 2016 VOLUME 23 NUMBER 8 This week, a letter from Fleming & Curti, PLC attorney Amy Farrell Matheson, addressed to a father (not, as it happens, her father so much as your father): Dad, we need to talk: We love you and want the best for you. Over the past few months, we’ve […]
The Patient Self Determination Act and Trends in Advance Directives
MAY 4, 2015 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 17 Last month the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a short report on the use of advance directives in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities. The report, requested by members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, addressed the experience with health care powers of […]
Health Care Directives — Advice for Snowbirds and Travelers
APRIL 20, 2015 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 15 Arizona weather is beautiful, especially this time of year. We do have our weather challenges — for most of the state, that means the summer months — but there is no doubt that Arizona is attractive to visitors from more northern climes during the fall, winter and spring. […]
Forgot to Make New Year’s Resolutions? We Can Help
JANUARY 5, 2015 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 1 First we’d like to apologize for not getting this to you last week. We know how hard you were working to prepare some good New Year’s Resolutions. You wanted some that you could actually count on satisfying, that would really be beneficial, and that would make you sound […]
New Thanksgiving Tradition to Consider: The Conversation
NOVEMBER 24, 2014 VOLUME 21 NUMBER 43 You’ve signed your health care power of attorney and your living will (maybe they were in the same document). You’ve given a copy to your doctor and of course your lawyer kept a copy. Did you think you were done? Because you’re not. Now it’s time to take […]
Is That Your Advance Directive in Your Pocket?
JULY 14, 2014 VOLUME 21 NUMBER 25 Last week I underwent a small outpatient surgical procedure (I’m fine — thanks for asking). I actually looked forward to the “do you have an advance (medical) directive?” question on admission. A couple years ago I had another outpatient procedure, and was surprised when the intake clerk asked […]
