Watson & Maynez, P.C.

Planning for Possible Future Incapacity

Medical Power of Attorney (Living Will)

A medical power of attorney gives a person you name authority to make healthcare decisions for you in the event you are unable to make such decisions on your own. Because "health care" means any treatment service or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat your physical or mental condition, your agent has the power to make a broad range of health care decisions for you.

Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Management

A Durable Power of Attorney is a document that gives the person you name authority to act as your agent in management of your property or financial affairs. A Durable Power of Attorney is "durable" because it lasts while you are incapacitated. Further, it can be drafted to take effect immediately or upon later incapacity.

Directives to Healthcare Physician

A Directive to Healthcare Physician is a document that directs a doctor to either continue or discontinue certain life support measures in the event you are later diagnosed with a terminal condition or irreversible condition which will result in death without life support measures. Understood is that the individual is unable to make the decisions for himself or herself at the time.

Appointment of Guardian

Texas law permits an individual to pre-select or pre-reject the later appointment of one or more individuals or entities as guardian for one's person and/or estate in the event of later incapacity and determination of need for guardianship by a Probate Court of competent jurisdiction.

Living Trusts

A Living Trust is sometimes used to decide, in advance, who will make certain financial decisions as substitute trustee. For more information on Living Trusts, go to the Trust Resource Center.