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Advance Health Care Directives in California
When medical decisions need to be made and you can’t speak for yourself, an Advance Health Care Directive ensures your wishes are known and respected. We help you approach these important choices with clarity, so your loved ones can act with confidence and peace of mind.
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What Is an Advance Health Care Directive?
An Advance Health Care Directive, sometimes called a living will, allows you to clearly state your medical wishes and appoint someone you trust to make healthcare decisions if you can’t. It covers choices like life support, pain management, and organ donation, ensuring your care reflects your values, even when you can’t communicate them yourself.
At Hsiao Law, we make sure your directive is legally sound, easy to understand, and seamlessly integrated with your overall estate plan.
What to Include in Your Advance Health Care Directive
A well-prepared directive covers more than emergency medical choices, it reflects your full range of preferences and values. At Hsiao Law, we help you:
Appoint a trusted healthcare agent to make decisions on your behalf.
Specify treatments you want, or wish to avoid, in serious situations.
Express your wishes about pain management and end-of-life care.
Include organ donation and funeral preferences, if desired.
These details ensure your care aligns with your beliefs, providing comfort and clarity when it matters most.
Health Care Directive Services
Personalized Advance Health Care Directives
We take the time to understand your values, beliefs, and medical preferences, then prepare a clear, legally sound directive that ensures your wishes are respected in any circumstance.
Medical Power of Attorney Integration
Your directive works best when paired with a medical Power of Attorney. We help you appoint the right person to make healthcare decisions, ensuring your plan is both comprehensive and compassionate.
Ongoing Reviews and Updates
Through our FamilyCare VIP Program, we review your documents regularly so they stay current with changes in your health, relationships, or California law.
Why Every Adult Should Have a Health Care Directive
A health care directive is more than a legal form, it’s an act of love and protection. It spares your family from painful guesswork and ensures your care reflects your beliefs and preferences. Whether you’re single, married, young, or retired, having your wishes in writing brings peace, privacy, and control when it matters most.
Why Create Your Health Care Directive with Hsiao Law
At Hsiao Law, we know these conversations can be emotional, but they don’t have to be overwhelming. We take the time to listen to your values, explain your options in plain language, and help you make confident, compassionate choices. Every directive we create is designed to work in real life, giving your loved ones clarity and comfort when it matters most. Through our FamilyCare VIP Program, we’ll also keep your documents up to date as your life and wishes evolve.
Based on 34 reviews
Joe Perone
3 years ago
Outstanding firm. Associates and leader are simultaneously very sharp as well as incredibly empathetic to the estate planning process. Strongly recommend!
Cailin Fonseca
3 years ago
I attended a planning and informational session with Amy. She is very engaging, insightful and makes you really think about your Estate Planning needs!
Lyndsay Nelson
3 years ago
Amy is a very professionell and personable attorney. Very much enjoyed the knowledge she shared at her event. Knowledge is power!
Karla Rodriguez
3 years ago
Amy was so knowledgeable and presented information in digestible chunks. I am leaving this session feeling empowered! Thank you so much Amy!
Alexis
3 years ago
Amy was so informative!! I came in knowing nothing about any planning for the future and am leaving feeling so empowered and ready for the future. She made it all very easy to understand and exciting to think about when it’s usually very overwhelming. Will definitely recommend her to everyone!
Niki Jones
3 years ago
We have been working with Hsiao Law for 3 years and I was so thrilled to be an attendees at today’s Wine & Wills event. As a single mom, estate planning seems so scary and overwhelming. Amy is absolutely amazing. She speaks in a way that is so easy to understand and helps you understand difficult subjects what you need to do by providing actionable first steps!
Bob Giramma
2 years ago
Amy is very knowledgeable and articulate. We thoroughly enjoyed her talk.
Donnaly Atajar
2 years ago
Amy was so helpful and supportive in sharing the preliminary steps and options to getting my affairs in order. This process can be overwhelming, but she provides info in a digestible way to ensure I understood. I want to make the process as easy as possible for my kids/family in the event something happens to me and Amy is making that easy with no surprise fees.
Teresa Rivers
2 years ago
I have already recommended Amy and her team to my friends, family and co-workers. Amy, Ashlee and Nikko are all very professional and knowledgeable. I love the very organized process of getting our trust developed. I also like that it's a one-stop shop for wills, trust and health care directive and PoA. The price is worth the peace of mind.
Rachel Paxton
1 year ago
Amy and her team were organized and professional while also being warm and kind. We loved working with them!
What Peace of Mind Really Feels Like
True success isn’t just having documents in a binder, it’s the comfort of knowing your family is protected no matter what tomorrow brings. It’s your children cared for, your wishes honored, and your loved ones spared from conflict or confusion.
At Hsiao Law, we make sure your plan works in real life, so you can focus on living, loving, and enjoying the moments that matter most.
Common Questions About Health Care Directives
Who should have a health care directive?
Every adult should have one. Illness or accidents can happen unexpectedly, and a directive ensures your voice is heard no matter your age or health.
Can I change my directive later?
Yes. You can update or revoke your health care directive at any time, as long as you’re mentally capable. We recommend reviewing it every few years or after major life changes.
Is a health care directive the same as a living will?
They’re similar but not identical. A living will outlines your end-of-life care preferences, while a health care directive covers broader medical decisions and lets you name someone to speak for you.
Do I need both a health care directive and a medical power of attorney?
Ideally, yes. The directive explains what you want; the power of attorney designates who can make decisions. Together, they ensure complete coverage.
What if my family disagrees with my choices?
Your health care directive is legally binding in California. It ensures that your doctors and loved ones must honor your stated preferences, even in moments of disagreement.
