Advance Directives Attorneys in Centennial

Over a Decade of Estate Planning Experience Serving Centennial-Area Clients

Estate planning isn’t solely about allocating assets. Documenting your healthcare wishes is an equal part of a complete plan, and without advance directives in place, an incapacitated adult’s family may face a court guardianship proceeding just to obtain authority to make medical decisions on their behalf. An advance directive is a legal document that lets you specify your healthcare preferences and, where applicable, designate a trusted healthcare agent to make decisions if you become incapacitated and can no longer speak for yourself.

At Skipton Law, LLC, our attorneys have over a decade of experience in estate planning and elder law, including advance care planning matters. We serve clients throughout the Centennial area and the broader Denver metro, and we handle advance directives as part of a comprehensive approach that also covers wills, trusts, and Medicaid planning, as well as long-term care. That connection matters: healthcare wishes don’t exist in isolation, and a plan that addresses both can protect you more fully. The decisions you make in an advance directive are grounded in your personal values, beliefs, and preferences, and we work to make sure those decisions are clearly documented.

We also offer free educational workshops so you can understand advance directive basics before your consultation. That way, your appointment time focuses entirely on your individual needs rather than general background.

Call Skipton Law, LLC today at (720) 770-3880 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our Centennial advance directive attorneys.

Advance Directives in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions

• What Does Advance Health Directive Mean?
• What Is Included in an Advance Health Directive?
• Who Should Have an Advance Directive?
• How Do I Complete an Advance Health Directive?
• Do I Need a Lawyer for an Advance Directive?
• How Often Should I Update My Advance Directive?
• Do Advance Healthcare Directives Expire?
• Does an Advance Directive in Colorado Have to Be Notarized?
• What Is the MOST Form & How Does It Relate to a Living Will?

What Does Advance Health Directive Mean?

An advance health directive is a legal document that lets you specify your end-of-life healthcare wishes before you’re in a position where you can’t speak for yourself. Without one, your doctor may not know what treatment you want, and your loved ones may be left to guess. An advance health directive puts your wishes in writing in a form that is legally binding and clearly documented.

What Is Included in an Advance Health Directive?

Colorado recognizes three primary advance directive documents, and each serves a distinct purpose. We draft all three.

Living Will
A living will specifies your preferences regarding life-sustaining procedures, including artificial nutrition, artificial hydration, respirators, and feeding tubes. In Colorado, a living will goes into effect 48 hours after two physicians certify in writing that you have a terminal condition and can’t speak for yourself, or that you are in a persistent vegetative state (a condition of permanent unconsciousness without awareness).

Medical Durable Power of Attorney
A medical durable power of attorney designates a trusted individual as your healthcare agent to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Unlike a living will, this document applies regardless of whether a terminal condition or persistent vegetative state is present.

CPR Directive
A CPR directive specifies your preferences regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Colorado provides a CPR Directive form through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Advance directives we prepare include both witness signatures and notarization as standard, making the documents valid across all states, not just Colorado.

Who Should Have an Advance Directive?

Most people assume advance directives are something to think about later in life. They’re not. Unexpected accidents and medical events can affect anyone at any age, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends that every adult over 18 have at minimum a medical durable power of attorney. The right time to create these documents is while you’re healthy and fully capable of expressing your wishes.

How Do I Complete an Advance Health Directive?

Colorado doesn’t require advance directives to follow a specific format. They simply need to meet the requirements of state law. Premade forms are available for download, and working from a template can help ensure nothing is overlooked. That said, we recommend having an attorney help you complete the process.

Our attorneys ensure your document clearly states your wishes, is legally binding, and is delivered to everyone involved in your medical care, including your physicians and the individual you designate as your medical power of attorney. Completing the paperwork correctly the first time can help protect you when it matters most.

Do I Need a Lawyer for an Advance Directive?

A lawyer isn’t legally required to create an advance directive in Colorado, but attorney assistance can reduce the risk of errors that could affect the type of medical treatment you receive.

Our estate planning attorneys review the full scope of your end-of-life care to make advance care planning as comprehensive as possible. With over a decade of experience in estate planning and elder law, we surface issues clients often haven’t considered: from selecting the right combination of documents to identifying the right healthcare agent and drafting the medical durable power of attorney that designates them. We can also help you recognize when your documents need updating after major life changes. A complete advance directive isn’t something you draft once and file away. It’s a living part of your estate plan, and our team supports clients through that process over time.

How Often Should I Update My Advance Directive?

You should review your advance directive regularly. End-of-life wishes change, and a document that reflected your values five years ago may not reflect them today. We recommend reviewing your documents every couple of years and after any of the following life events.

• Death of a family member or close friend
• A serious medical diagnosis affecting you or a named agent
• Divorce
• A change in your living situation

A new advance directive supersedes and invalidates the prior one. Our attorneys can assist with updates throughout the advance care planning process.

Do Advance Healthcare Directives Ever Expire?

No. Advance healthcare directives don’t expire. You can invalidate an existing directive by executing a new one. If your wishes have changed, we can help you update your documents so they accurately reflect where you stand today.

Does an Advance Directive Have to Be Notarized in Colorado?

Colorado provides more flexibility than many states. Notarization isn’t required for a medical durable power of attorney, CPR directive, or living will, though Colorado does require two witnesses for a living will to become valid. Having your advance directive both witnessed and notarized can make it more readily accepted in other states, which is particularly useful for clients who spend time across state lines. At Skipton Law, LLC, our medical powers of attorney and advance directives include both witness signatures and notarization as standard features.

What Is the MOST Form & How Does It Relate to a Living Will?

The MOST form (Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment) is a Colorado document signed by both the patient (or their authorized legal decision-maker) and a physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant. It functions as a standing medical order in the patient’s medical records and is typically printed on bright green paper for easy identification, though photocopies, faxes, and electronic scans are also valid. Because it follows the patient from one care setting to another, it is used primarily in serious illness or nursing home contexts.

The MOST form doesn’t replace a living will. The two documents work together to more fully capture end-of-life treatment intentions. The MOST statute doesn’t create new treatment alternatives under Colorado law; it places existing preferences on a single document that travels with the patient. For most clients in the Centennial area, a comprehensive advance directive prepared with an attorney remains the foundation, with the MOST form serving as a supplement when a physician recommends it.

Start Your Advance Directive with Skipton Law, LLC

If you’re ready to put your medical wishes in writing or name a healthcare agent, our team can help. We offer phone, video, and in-person consultation options to fit your schedule. Clients throughout the Centennial area and Denver metro can reach us by phone or through our website.

Call Skipton Law, LLC at (720) 770-3880 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our estate planning attorneys.