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Health Care Directives

Foundational Estate Planning

Make Your Medical Wishes Known with Health Care Directives

Health Care Directives, also known as medical directives or advanced directives, help ensure your medical wishes are clearly documented before a crisis occurs. A Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, Mental Health Power of Attorney, and HIPAA Authorization work together to guide your medical agents if you’re unable to speak for yourself.

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What it does

Planning Ahead for Medical Decisions

Health Care Directives help you plan for medical decisions if you become seriously ill, injured, incapacitated, or unable to communicate. A Health Care Power of Attorney and Mental Health Power of Attorney authorize someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf, while a Living Will documents your wishes for End-of-Life Planning. A HIPAA Authorization allows your doctors to share important medical information with the people you’ve chosen. Together, these documents reduce confusion, avoid conflict, and provide clear guidance during an emotional time for your loved ones.

Who it’s for

Are Health Care Directives Right for You?

Health Care Directives are an important part of every comprehensive estate plan and may be the right choice if you:
  • Want to put your wishes in writing, choose who inherits your assets, or name a personal representative to administer your estate.
  • Want to name a guardian for your minor children or other dependents instead of leaving that decision to the courts.
  • Are an Arizona homeowner, an unmarried partner, or part of a blended family and don’t want important decisions left to Arizona probate laws.
  • Have an estate below Arizona’s probate threshold ($200,000 in personal property or $300,000 in real estate) and are comfortable with beneficiaries receiving their inheritance outright.
  • Are creating a trust-based estate plan and need a pour-over will to help direct assets left outside your trust.

How it works

Our Six-Step Process

  • 1

    Schedule Your Free Consultation

    Discuss your estate planning needs and health care decision goals.

  • 2

    Choose Your Decision-Makers

    Select the people you trust to serve as your Health Care and Mental Health Care Powers of Attorney.

  • 3

    Document Your Wishes

    Discuss your medical treatment preferences, End-of-Life Planning wishes, and who may receive your medical information.

  • 4

    Prepare Your Directives

    We’ll prepare the appropriate Health Care Directives based on your individual goals.

  • 5

    Review & Sign Your Documents

    We’ll explain each document, answer your questions, and ensure everything is properly executed.

  • 6

    Share Your Plan

    Receive guidance on sharing copies with your physicians, health care agents, and loved ones.

45+
Years Serving Arizona
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Offices Statewide
3rd
Generation Family Firm
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Estate Planning Focus

What's included

Documents you receive.

  • Health Care Power of Attorney

    Authorize someone you trust to make health care decisions if you’re unable to communicate.

  • Mental Health Power of Attorney

    Choose someone to make mental health treatment decisions when needed.

  • Living Will

    Document your wishes for End-of-Life Planning and life-sustaining treatment.

  • HIPAA Authorization

    Allow your medical providers to share important health information with your chosen decision-makers.

  • Agent & Alternate Agent Designations

    Name primary and backup decision-makers to carry out your wishes.

  • Organ Donation & Final Wishes

    Document organ donation preferences along with funeral and post-life arrangements.

  • Guidance for Sharing Documents

    Receive recommendations for providing copies to physicians, loved ones, and your health care agents.

Why Phelps LaClair

Essential for Every Estate Plan

We include Health Care Directives in every comprehensive estate plan because they are essential—not optional.

We ensure each document works together: your Living Will expresses your wishes, your Health Care Power of Attorney and Mental Health Power of Attorney authorize someone to execute them, and your HIPAA Authorization allows doctors to share important medical information.

These documents can be prepared as standalone documents or as part of a broader estate plan focused on incapacity planning, decision-making, and long-term peace of mind.

What it costs

Transparent Pricing You Can Count On

Custom Quote

Pricing depends on whether your Health Care Directives are prepared as standalone documents or as part of a comprehensive estate plan. We’ll provide a flat-fee quote during your free consultation, so you’ll know the cost before any work begins.

Common questions

Your Health Care Directives Questions, Answered

  • A Living Will is a legal document that states your wishes for medical care if you’re unable to communicate, especially in end-of-life situations.

  • A Living Will explains your preferences for life-sustaining treatment if your death is imminent or you are in a persistent vegetative state. A DNR, or Do Not Resuscitate order, instructs health care professionals and first responders not to perform CPR if your heart stops beating or you stop breathing.

  • No. We do not prepare DNRs. A DNR is obtained from your doctor or through the appropriate Arizona state resources.

  • A Medical Power of Attorney allows you to choose someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to communicate or make those decisions yourself.

  • Your Living Will states your wishes for end-of-life care, while your Medical Power of Attorney gives someone you trust the authority to make health care decisions on your behalf. Together, they help ensure your wishes are both documented and executed.

  • Yes. The terms “Health Care Directives” and “Medical Directives” are often used interchangeably. They generally refer to legal documents such as a Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, Mental Health Power of Attorney, and HIPAA Authorization that communicate your medical wishes and authorize trusted decision-makers if you’re unable to speak for yourself.

This information is educational and not a substitute for advice from a licensed Arizona attorney.

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