After creating your health care directive with Bainum Law, it is important that copies of your documents are in the correct hands and are updated whenever circumstances make it necessary to do so. Your health care directive must be both safe and easy to access. Advance directives copies should be distributed to your health care provider, your chosen agent, and your agent’s successor. It is also wise to keep a record of who has been provided with a copy of the health care directive.

Have important conversations with your family members now to discuss your health care directive. In the event that your advance directive is needed, you will not be available to explain anything. Keep a wallet-sized card on you at all times with information on your health care directive and how to access copies of that document and take a copy of it with you when you travel.

Just as your life is not static, your estate planning documents cannot remain the same for decades without a thought. Consider updating your healthcare directive with your attorney if you receive an updated healthcare diagnosis or if your marital status changes. Additionally, it is a good practice to review the contents of your health care directive every ten years. If you choose to make any changes, all old copies should be disposed of and replaced with new copies of your updated advance directive.

For more information about estate planning with Bainum Law, see our pages about wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.