Your Will may state that your whole estate is to be left to one person or may contain specific bequests to multiple beneficiaries. You can indicate in your Will who you would wish to be the guardian of your infant children in the event of your death.

Your Will may also express your wishes in relation to any funeral service you may or may not desire and if you wish to be buried or cremated.

Your Will may also contain your wishes in relation to organ donation.

If you do not have a valid Will at the time of your death, your family and loved ones may suffer delays and increased legal costs in relation to the administration of your estate.

Have you considered recording your will on DVD?

Berck and Associates is pleased to offer you a special way to communicate your wishes to those you leave behind when you pass away.

Often we wish to say more than the words in a will do, or perhaps explain our reasons for the decisions we have made. By video-recording you reading your will with any other messages you wish to include, you can more effectively communicate what you wish to those who need to hear it.

While it is important that you do have a "hard copy" or paper will, the addition of a video message may help to avoid family unrest and unanswered questions.

At Berck and Associates, we will assist you in the preparation of your will and, if you wish, will also video-record yourself conveying your message. This "virtual will" can then be kept on DVD with your paper will and additional copies provided to you.

What is an Advance Health Directive?

An Advance Health Directive, sometimes called a "living will", is a document that allows you to give directions about your future health care and to appoint another person to make health care decisions on your behalf, if you are unable to do so.

Some of the decisions people may have to make on your behalf include:
· What future health treatment you have
· Whether to have life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn
· Whether to donate organs
· Whether to undergo psychiatric health care
· Whether to participate in experimental health care

In effect, it allows you to decide in advance what future health care you receive.

An Advance Health Directive will only come into effect when you no longer have the capacity to communicate a decision. You must make sure your directives are clear, not contrary to good medical practice and appropriate to your circumstances. If they are not, a health care provider may not be obliged to follow your wishes.

How do I get an Advanced Health Directive?

You must be over 18 years of age to make an Advanced Health Directive.

The process is similar to making an enduring power of attorney. At Berck and Associates, we can assist you in preparing the document in accordance with your wishes.

Additionally, you will need to obtain a certificate signed by your doctor that confirms that at the time of making the directive, you appeared to have the necessary legal capacity to make it.

It is advisable to revise your Health Directive regularly, so that it remains in accordance with your circumstances and wishes. Make sure that you inform your family and your doctor about the health directive, so that they too know what your wishes are, in order to act upon them immediately in time of need.

Berck & Associates
Level 7, 157 Ann Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel +61 7 3238 6100 | info@berck.com.au