In preparation of our upcoming international trip, it was noted that it may be worthwhile to update any personal documents, wills, heath care surrogate forms, etc. With that in mind, I wanted to let you know about some information and guidance that the Florida Bar provides free to the public regarding these items.

A Living Will is a document that gives instructions or expresses an individual’s desire concerning any aspect of his or her future health care treatment. A Living Will should not be confused with a person’s legal will which disposes of personal property on or after his or her death, and appoints a personal representative or revokes or revises another will. A Health Care Surrogate is a person designated to make health care decisions if the individual becomes unable to do so.

Florida Bar Main Site:
On the Florida Bar Website, you can click Public Information, Consumer Information and then “Living Wills, Health Care Surrogates, and Advanced Directives.” Here is the link to the main site: http://www.floridabar.org/tfb/flabarwe.nsf/840090c16eedaf0085256b61000928dc/b954f12053a410ec85256e28005bd4a0?OpenDocument

Here are links to some FAQS documents:
Do You Have a Will?:
http://www.floridabar.org/tfb/TFBConsum.nsf/48e76203493b82ad852567090070c9b9/a0091ab18d4875d085256b2f006c5b75?OpenDocument
Florida Powers of Attorney: http://www.floridabar.org/tfb/TFBConsum.nsf/840090c16eedaf0085256b61000928dc/ab36277c4562e98885256b2f006c5ad6?OpenDocument
Health Care Advance Directives:
http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/reports-guides/advance-directives.shtml

Template Forms:
(In order to make these Florida Bar-provided documents valid, they must be signed and witnessed. There is no need to involve a physician or retain a lawyer, unless personally desired.)
Living Will:
http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBResources.nsf/Attachments/5DC5FF47F44CD21C85256E28005D3E7F/$FILE/LivingWill04stat.pdf?OpenElement
Health Care Surrogate:
http://www.floridabar.org/TFB/TFBResources.nsf/Attachments/C2F0FB4E7F56D6EE85256E28006A37BF/$FILE/DesigSurrogFAQ.pdf?OpenElement