Specialist Advance Care Directive Lawyers in Sydney NSW
PBL Law Group is a leading NSW law firm specialising in Advance Care Directives that legally protect your future healthcare wishes.
- Documenting your future healthcare wishes.
- Ensuring your values & preferences are respected.
- Clear, legally recognised guidance for your family.
- Take control of your future medical care today.
Speak to Our Sydney Advance Care Directive Lawyers Now
We will call you within 24 hours.
Who Our Advance Care Direct Lawyers Help
Seniors & Retirees
We provide peace of mind by formally documenting your end-of-life wishes, ensuring your medical preferences are legally secure for the future.
Parents & Spouses
We help you create clear directives to ease the burden of difficult healthcare decisions on your loved ones during a stressful time.
Individuals with Health Concerns
We provide sensitive, timely advice to legally record your specific medical preferences, giving you control over your ongoing care.
For Single & Independent Individuals
We guide you in formally documenting your wishes to ensure your autonomy is respected when there is no automatic next of kin.
For Holistic Estate Planners
We ensure your Advance Care Directive seamlessly integrates with your Will and Enduring Guardianship for a complete, robust plan.
Our Specialised Advance Care Directive Services
Drafting Advance Care Directives
We expertly draft clear & legally binding Advance Care Directives, ensuring your future medical & healthcare wishes are accurately recorded.
Integration with Estate Plans
We ensure your Directive seamlessly integrates with your Will & Enduring Guardianship, creating a complete & holistic plan for your future.
Reviewing & Updating Directives
We provide legal support to formally review, update, or revoke your Advance Care Directive, ensuring your wishes always remain current.
Real 5-Star Client Reviews
Speak to Our Advance Care Directive Lawyers in Sydney
We will call you within 24 hours.
Our Proven Advance Care Directive Process
1
Understanding Your Needs
We begin with a sensitive consultation to discuss your personal values, beliefs, & specific preferences for future medical care & treatment.
2
Drafting Your Directive
Our lawyers expertly draft a clear & legally robust Advance Care Directive that accurately reflects your personal wishes & instructions.
3
Document Review & Explanation
We review the drafted document with you, explaining each clause in plain English to ensure it fully captures your intentions before finalisation.
4
Finalisation & Peace of Mind
We guide you through the formal signing & witnessing process to ensure your Directive is valid & provide copies for your doctor & Guardian.
Speak to Our NSW Advance Care Directive Lawyers Now
We will call you within 24 hours.
Why Choose Our Advance Care Directive Lawyers?
1
Compassionate Service
We take the time to understand your values, providing sensitive guidance to ensure your final healthcare wishes are accurately recorded.
2
Clear Communication
We explain every step in plain English, ensuring you feel comfortable & confident. You will have direct access to your lawyer for any questions.
3
Guaranteed Legal Validity
Our expert drafting process ensures your directive is clear, unambiguous, & legally binding, providing certainty for your family & medical team.
4
Complete Peace of Mind
Our expert support ensures your healthcare decisions remain in your control, giving you & your loved ones complete peace of mind.
Visit Our Sydney Wills & Estate Lawyers
We provide expert wills & estate planning advice to clients across NSW. Meet with our team at our central Sydney CBD office, or at our regional offices in Gosford, Gorokan & Coffs Harbour.
Speak to our Advance Care Directive Lawyers Now
We will call you within 24 hours.
A Legally Binding Advance Care Directive, Guaranteed
An informal directive creates risk. Ambiguous wording can be challenged, leaving your family in distress and your wishes ignored. We eliminate that risk entirely.
At PBL Law Group, our experienced lawyers draft your Advance Care Directive to be clear, unambiguous, and fully compliant with NSW law. This guarantees your instructions are legally binding and must be followed by your family and medical team, giving you complete peace of mind.
Why an Advance Care Directive Is Important
Without your clear instructions, your family faces the heartbreaking burden of making medical decisions for you. This uncertainty often leads to conflict and distress, as they are left guessing your wishes during an already emotional time.
An Advance Care Directive is a profound act of care. Our advance care directive lawyers help you articulate your choices with absolute clarity, removing all doubt. This gives your family the clear guidance and peace of mind they need to honour your wishes without conflict.
Speak to our Sydney Advance Care Directive Lawyers Now
We will call you within 24 hours.
FAQs about Advance Care Directives
What is an Advance Care Directive (ACD)?
An Advance Care Directive is a formal document where you state your preferences and instructions for your future healthcare and end-of-life care. It is sometimes also known as a ‘Living Will’.
When does an Advance Care Directive take effect?
It only comes into effect if you lose the mental capacity to make or communicate your own decisions due to a serious illness or injury. While you have capacity, you always make your own decisions.
What is the difference between an Advance Care Directive and an Enduring Guardian?
An Appointment of Enduring Guardian is a document where you appoint a person to make decisions for you. An Advance Care Directive is where you state your specific wishes to guide that person and your doctors. They are complementary documents.
Can an Enduring Guardian override my Advance Care Directive?
No. A valid and clearly written Advance Care Directive is legally binding on your Enduring Guardian and your healthcare professionals. They must respect the instructions you have set out.
Is an Advance Care Directive legally binding in NSW?
Yes. While NSW does not have a specific legislated form, a properly made Advance Care Directive is recognised and legally binding under common law, provided it is clear, unambiguous, and applies to the current situation.
What kind of decisions can I include in my Advance Care Directive?
You can include instructions about what medical treatments you would accept or refuse (like resuscitation or life support), your preferences for palliative care, where you would prefer to be cared for, and your personal values.
Can I request illegal treatments like euthanasia in an Advance Care Directive?
No. An Advance Care Directive cannot be used to request any treatment that is unlawful in NSW, such as euthanasia.
Can I demand specific treatments in my Advance Care Directive?
You can state your preferences for treatment, but you cannot demand treatment that a doctor deems medically inappropriate or of no benefit to your condition.
Who can make an Advance Care Directive?
Any adult over the age of 18 can make an Advance Care Directive, provided they have the mental capacity to understand the nature and consequences of the decisions they are making at the time of creating the document.
How do I make an Advance Care Directive?
While you can simply write down your wishes, it is highly recommended to have it professionally drafted by a lawyer to ensure it is clear, unambiguous, and legally robust, which will prevent confusion for your family and doctors.
Do I need a lawyer to witness my Advance Care Directive?
While not strictly required by law like an Enduring Guardianship, having a lawyer witness your Advance Care Directive adds significant weight to its validity and helps prove it was made voluntarily and with full understanding.
Can I change or revoke my Advance Care Directive?
Yes. You can change, update, or completely revoke your Advance Care Directive at any time, as long as you still have the mental capacity to do so. It is wise to review it periodically as your health or values change.
Who should I give copies of my Advance Care Directive to?
You should provide copies to your appointed Enduring Guardian(s), your GP, your close family members, and any hospital or aged care facility where you receive care. It can also be uploaded to your My Health Record.
What happens if I don't have an Advance Care Directive?
If you lose capacity, your Enduring Guardian (if appointed) or your ‘person responsible’ (often your next of kin) will have to make decisions for you without any formal guidance on your personal wishes, which can be very stressful for them.
Does my Advance Care Directive expire?
No, an Advance Care Directive does not have an expiry date. It remains valid until you choose to revoke or replace it.
What if my Advance Care Directive is too vague?
If a healthcare professional finds your directive to be unclear or ambiguous in a specific situation, they may not be able to follow it and will have to act in what they determine to be your best interests. This is why professional drafting is so important.
Can I make an Advance Care Directive as a separate document from my Enduring Guardianship?
Yes. You can have a standalone Advance Care Directive. However, it is often beneficial to include it within or attach it to your Appointment of Enduring Guardian document so your wishes and the person appointed to carry them out are in one place.
Why is an Advance Care Directive an important part of estate planning?
Estate planning is not just about assets. It’s about planning for your entire future. An Advance Care Directive is a crucial part of this, as it protects your personal autonomy and wellbeing while you are alive but unable to speak for yourself.
Should I discuss my Advance Care Directive with my doctor?
Yes, it is highly recommended. Discussing your wishes and the medical terminology with your doctor ensures that your directives are well-informed, practical, and clear for other healthcare professionals to follow.
Is a "Living Will" the same as an Advance Care Directive?
Yes, the terms “Living Will” and “Advance Care Directive” are often used interchangeably in Australia to describe a document that sets out your future healthcare and medical treatment preferences.
How Our NSW Wills & Estate Lawyers Can Assist You
Wills Drafting & Review
We draft & update clear, legally sound wills to ensure your final wishes are documented & protected.
Dispute a Will
Whether a Will is invalid or just unfair, we can help. We challenge Wills on grounds of incapacity or fraud & contest Wills for a fairer provision.
Defending a Will
We represent executors & beneficiaries to defend a will’s validity against challenges or family provision claims.
Family Provision Claims
Unfairly left out of a will? We help eligible persons contest a will & claim their fair share under the Succession Act 2006 (NSW).
Domestic Estate Planning
We create tailored estate plans to safeguard your Australian assets, minimise tax & provide for your loved ones.
International Estate Planning
Our experts advise on cross-border estate planning, international wills & trusts for tax-efficient global wealth transfer.
Grant of Probate
We guide executors through the Supreme Court process to obtain a Grant of Probate, validating the will & authorising you to act.
Enduring Power of Attorney
We prepare enduring powers of attorney to manage your future financial & legal decisions.
Enduring Guardianship
We draft enduring guardianships, appointing someone to make crucial personal, lifestyle & medical decisions if you’re unable.
Testamentary Trusts
We establish effective testamentary trusts within your will for superior asset protection, tax benefits & flexible beneficiary provision.
Intestacy Law & Advice
When a loved one dies without a will, we guide families through intestacy law to ensure the lawful distribution of assets.
Letters of Administration
We assist families in applying to the Supreme Court for Letters of Administration when there is no valid will or executor.
Estate Administration
We help executors with the administration of deceased estates, ensuring the lawful & efficient collection & distribution of assets.
Advance Care Directives
We draft clear directives outlining your medical treatment & end-of-life wishes to ensure they’re respected.
Special Disability Trusts
We establish specialised trusts to provide for the long-term care & financial security of a loved one with a severe disability.
Speak to Our NSW Advance Care Directive Lawyers Now
We will call you within 24 hours.
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