Your voice in critical healthcare decisions
across Florida.
Advanced directives empower Florida residents to maintain complete control over their medical care, end-of-life choices, and surrogate representation even when they cannot speak for themselves. Ensure your healthcare wishes are legally binding and provide enduring peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
Comprehensive legal instruments protecting
your medical care & personal values.
Under Florida law, having structured advanced directives guarantees that your healthcare choices are respected by physicians, hospitals, and family members during critical moments.
Florida Living Wills
Specify exact medical treatments you desire or refuse if diagnosed with a terminal condition, end-stage illness, or persistent vegetative state—including artificial nutrition, hydration, and ventilators.
Health Care Surrogate Designation
Appoint a trusted adult advocate legally authorized to communicate with doctors, review treatments, and make informed medical decisions on your behalf upon temporary or permanent incapacity.
HIPAA Medical Releases
Authorize your surrogate and trusted family members to immediately access private medical records, test results, and physician evaluations without privacy law obstacles.
Pre-Need Guardian Designation
Nominate your chosen guardian in advance, legally preventing the court from appointing an unwanted stranger or disputed relative if formal guardianship ever becomes necessary.
Comfort Care & Palliative Preferences
Provide clear written guidance regarding pain management, hospice care preferences, spiritual considerations, and dignity-focused palliative treatment protocols.
Physician & Hospital Coordination
Ensure your advance directives are properly formatted and distributed to primary physicians, specialist networks, and hospital registries so they are immediately accessible when needed.
How we draft and execute your
healthcare directives.
Personal Values Consultation
We discuss your personal beliefs, medical treatment philosophies, family dynamics, and surrogate choices in a confidential, comfortable consultation.
Tailored Document Drafting
We custom-draft your Living Will, Health Care Surrogate Designation, and HIPAA releases under Florida Statutes Chapter 765.
Formal Statutory Execution
We oversee the formal signing ceremony with required disinterested witnesses and Florida notaries to ensure 100% legal enforceability.
Storage & Distribution Guidance
We provide executed originals, secure digital copies, wallet medical cards, and guidance on distributing copies to doctors and surrogates.
Questions we hear in the first call.
If yours is not here, call our office. Someone who works on advance directives will answer.
Can I change my advanced directives after creating them?
Yes, you can modify or revoke your advanced directives at any time as long as you are competent. Simply create new documents, physically destroy old ones, or make a clear oral statement about your changed wishes.
Are advanced directives from other states valid in Florida?
Florida generally honors advanced directives created in other states if they comply with that state’s laws, but creating Florida-specific documents under Chapter 765 ensures full compliance with local hospital and statutory requirements.
What happens if I don’t have advanced directives in Florida?
Without advanced directives, Florida law appoints a healthcare proxy according to a statutory hierarchy (court-appointed guardian, spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings), which may not reflect your personal wishes and can lead to painful family conflicts.
What is a healthcare surrogate in advance directives?
A healthcare surrogate is a person you legally designate to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot communicate or lack capacity. This designation is made through a formal document called the Designation of Healthcare Surrogate.
What legal rights does a healthcare surrogate have in Florida?
In Florida, a healthcare surrogate has rights to access your medical records, consult with healthcare providers, provide informed consent for treatments, select facilities and physicians, apply for public benefits, and make end-of-life decisions based on your expressed wishes.
What is the difference between a living will and a healthcare surrogate?
A living will specifies what treatments you want or do not want in end-of-life situations (terminal illness, persistent vegetative state). A healthcare surrogate designation appoints a person to make broader healthcare decisions when you cannot communicate.
What is the difference between a Power of Attorney (POA) and a healthcare surrogate?
A healthcare surrogate is limited to medical and healthcare decisions. A durable power of attorney (POA) primarily handles financial, legal, and property matters. They serve complementary roles in a comprehensive Florida estate plan.
The documents group.
Jason Risberg, Esq.
Sofia Herrera, Esq.
Aaron W. Saoud, Esq.
Leah Emerson
Protect your healthcare wishes and
spare your loved ones the burden.
Advanced directives are a crucial component of comprehensive estate planning. Contact our experienced estate planning attorneys today to set up your consultation and establish your medical directives with confidence.
Flexible ‘Paying Over Time’ options are available to all clients.