Advance Directives Attorney in Cooper City, Florida
Advance directives are legal documents authorizing someone to make medical and financial decisions when you cannot. These include healthcare surrogate designations, living wills, and durable powers of attorney. Mark Mastrarrigo P.A. prepares advance directives for Cooper City and Broward County clients, ensuring documents comply with Florida law and clearly express your healthcare and financial preferences.
When This Service Is Needed
- You want to ensure someone can make medical decisions if you become incapacitated
- You need someone to manage finances and pay bills during incapacity
- You have specific wishes about end-of-life medical care
- You are planning for surgery or facing a serious health condition
- You want to give family members legal access to your medical information
How This Fits Into Your Estate Plan
Advance directives address incapacity during your lifetime, while wills and trusts address what happens after death. Together, these documents create a comprehensive estate plan that protects you at every stage. Your healthcare surrogate and power of attorney work alongside your personal representative and trustee to ensure seamless management of your affairs.
Protecting Your Healthcare Decisions
Advance directives ensure your healthcare wishes are known and followed if you become unable to communicate. These documents name trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf and provide guidance for end-of-life care.
At Mark Mastrarrigo P.A., we help clients in Cooper City and throughout Broward County create comprehensive advance directives that comply with Florida law and clearly express their wishes.
Healthcare Surrogate Designation
Florida law allows you to designate a healthcare surrogate who can make medical decisions when you cannot. We help you choose the right person and ensure the designation is properly documented.
Living Will
A living will expresses your wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures in terminal conditions. This document provides clear guidance to your surrogate and healthcare providers during difficult decisions.
Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney authorizes someone to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. This includes paying bills, managing investments, and handling property matters.
HIPAA Authorization
HIPAA authorizations allow designated individuals to access your medical information, essential for family members helping with your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a healthcare surrogate designation?
A healthcare surrogate designation names someone to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to make them yourself. This person advocates for your wishes when you cannot communicate.
What is a living will in Florida?
A Florida living will expresses your wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures if you have a terminal condition or are in a persistent vegetative state. It guides your surrogate and healthcare providers.
What is a durable power of attorney?
A durable power of attorney authorizes someone to handle financial and legal matters on your behalf, remaining effective even if you become incapacitated. This is essential for managing bills, accounts, and property.
Do I need both a living will and healthcare surrogate?
Yes. The living will expresses your wishes, while the healthcare surrogate names who will ensure those wishes are followed and make decisions not covered by the living will.
When do advance directives take effect?
Healthcare directives take effect when you cannot communicate your own decisions. A durable power of attorney can be immediate or "springing" (taking effect upon incapacity), depending on how it is drafted.
Related Services
Prepare Your Advance Directives
Contact our Cooper City office to discuss your advance directive needs and ensure your healthcare wishes are protected.
5500 South Flamingo Road, Suite 205, Cooper City, FL 33330
(954) 820-8535Last reviewed: February 2026
Protect Your Healthcare Decisions
Schedule a consultation to create your advance directives.