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Understanding Healthcare Directives and Planning Your Medical Wishes
Planning for future healthcare decisions is a vital part of a complete estate plan for Florin residents. Healthcare directives allow you to record your medical care preferences and designate someone to make decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. This guide explains the role of living wills, durable powers of attorney for healthcare, and related documents so you can choose the approach that matches your values. Reviewing and documenting these choices reduces stress for family members and helps ensure medical professionals follow your instructions. This introduction will help you begin the process of protecting your medical wishes in California.
Deciding on healthcare directives involves more than filling out forms; it requires thought about values, treatment preferences, and who will act on your behalf. In Florin, having clear directives in place provides direction during emergencies and long-term care scenarios. This section outlines practical steps to assess your needs, discuss preferences with loved ones, and record decisions in a way that aligns with California legal requirements. By planning ahead, you preserve personal control over medical choices and reduce uncertainty for those who will carry out your wishes, ensuring your preferences are honored when it matters most.
Why Healthcare Directives Matter for Florin Residents
Healthcare directives are a powerful tool for preserving an individual’s voice in medical decision-making when they cannot speak for themselves. These documents make treatment preferences clear to doctors and family members, helping prevent disagreements and delays in care. For Florin residents, directives can cover life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and preferences for palliative care, providing guidance tailored to personal values. A properly prepared directive also reduces the emotional burden on loved ones by clarifying expectations. Establishing these documents brings greater peace of mind and helps ensure that medical decisions reflect the patient’s wishes rather than uncertainty or assumption.
About LA Estate Plans and Our Approach in Florin
LA Estate Plans assists Florin residents with practical, client-focused estate planning services that include healthcare directives. We prioritize clear communication and careful attention to each client’s personal circumstances, helping you weigh options and document preferences that comport with California law. Our approach emphasizes thoughtful conversations about values and likely medical scenarios so your directives are meaningful and actionable. We guide you through form completion, witness requirements, and distribution of documents to ensure they are available when needed. Our goal is to make the planning process straightforward and to protect your healthcare wishes for the future.
Understanding Healthcare Directives: What They Are and How They Work
A healthcare directive is a set of legal documents that together communicate an individual’s medical treatment preferences and designate someone to act if the individual cannot make decisions. In California, these commonly include a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare. The living will expresses specific choices about life-sustaining treatment and other interventions, while the durable power of attorney appoints a trusted agent to interpret and implement your wishes. Together, these documents provide clarity to medical teams and family members and help ensure decisions align with the person’s values and priorities during critical moments.
Creating effective healthcare directives begins with reflection on values, goals of care, and possible medical situations you might face. Discussions with family and your chosen healthcare proxy help ensure understanding and reduce confusion later. Forms must be completed according to California requirements, including proper signatures and witness statements, so they will be recognized by medical providers. Regular review is important because preferences can change over time. A clear directive also benefits medical teams by reducing uncertainty and enabling care that respects the individual’s wishes in emergencies and long-term care settings.
Definition and Purpose of Healthcare Directives
A healthcare directive is a legal instrument that communicates how you wish to be treated medically if you are unable to make or communicate decisions. It typically includes a living will that details preferences about life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and comfort-focused care, and a durable power of attorney for healthcare that names an agent to make decisions consistent with your instructions. The purpose of these documents is to preserve personal autonomy, guide medical providers, and reduce conflict among family members by providing a written record of your medical priorities and the person authorized to carry them out.
Key Components and How Healthcare Directives Are Implemented
Key elements of healthcare directives include clearly stated treatment wishes, designation of a healthcare agent, and proper execution under California law. Implementation involves completing the appropriate forms, signing with required witnesses, and sharing copies with your agent, family, and medical providers. It is also important to discuss scenarios and preferences with the appointed agent so they understand how to make decisions on your behalf. Regularly reviewing and updating directives ensures they remain accurate as circumstances change. Proper distribution and communication increase the likelihood that your wishes are known and followed when needed.
Glossary of Important Terms for Healthcare Directives
Familiarity with common terms makes healthcare planning less intimidating. The glossary below defines living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare, healthcare proxy, and advance directive so you understand the role each plays in preserving your treatment preferences. Knowing these distinctions helps you select the right documents for your needs and explain them to the person you appoint. Clear definitions also support better conversations with medical providers and family members, improving the chance that your choices are respected during medical crises and longer-term care situations.
Living Will
A living will is a written statement that sets out specific medical treatment preferences for situations in which an individual cannot express their wishes. This document can address choices about life-sustaining care, resuscitation, tube feeding, and other interventions, and it is intended to guide medical decisions according to the person’s values. In California, a living will should be drafted with clear language, reviewed periodically, and shared with the appointed healthcare agent and healthcare providers to ensure it is available when decisions must be made.
Healthcare Proxy
A healthcare proxy is the person named in a durable power of attorney for healthcare who is authorized to make medical decisions on behalf of another individual when that person cannot do so. The proxy is expected to follow the expressed wishes in the living will and to advocate for the patient’s preferences with medical staff. Choosing a proxy requires trust and the ability to communicate under pressure. It is helpful to have detailed conversations with the proxy about values, scenarios, and limits so they are prepared to act in alignment with your wishes.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare legally appoints an agent to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated. Unlike a living will, which states specific treatment preferences, this document empowers a designated person to interpret situations and decide on care consistent with your values. The durable power of attorney ensures there is a clear decision-maker who can speak with healthcare providers and access medical records to advocate for the preferences you have recorded. It should be completed following California procedural rules and discussed openly with the chosen agent.
Advance Directive
An advance directive is an umbrella term for documents that communicate treatment preferences and appoint decision-makers before incapacity occurs. It commonly refers to a combination of a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare. The advance directive ensures there is both a record of specified medical wishes and a designated person to interpret and implement those wishes, providing a practical framework for decision-making during emergencies or prolonged illness. Proper execution and distribution of the directive increase the likelihood that treatment will align with the individual’s priorities.
Comparing Limited and Comprehensive Healthcare Directive Options
Florin residents can choose between a narrowly focused living will that states specific treatment preferences and a more comprehensive approach that includes both a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare. The limited approach may be simpler to prepare and appropriate when treatment preferences are straightforward and family members will reliably support those wishes. The comprehensive approach provides additional protection by naming an agent and covering unforeseen scenarios where written preferences may not precisely address the situation. Weighing the predictability of your preferences and the availability of a trusted advocate helps determine which option is right for you.
When a Focused Living Will May Be Appropriate:
Clear and Specific Treatment Preferences
A limited directive that consists primarily of a living will may be appropriate when treatment choices are straightforward and unlikely to change. If an individual has firm objections to certain interventions and those preferences can be expressed in clear, specific terms, a living will gives direct guidance to medical teams. This approach reduces paperwork and can be sufficient when family members understand and support the stated wishes. However, it is still important to share the document and discuss those preferences with loved ones and healthcare providers to ensure the document will be followed.
Strong Support Network Available
A limited approach may also be suitable when a reliable support network is in place. If close family members or friends are ready to advocate for your known preferences and communicate effectively with medical staff, a living will can guide choices while loved ones fill in situational judgment. This arrangement requires trust that those advocates will stand by your documented wishes and work with providers when decisions arise. Clear communication and accessible documents remain essential to ensure that the limited directive serves its intended purpose.
Why a Comprehensive Healthcare Directive May Be Preferable:
Anticipated Complexity in Medical Decisions
When future medical situations are hard to predict or involve complex choices about life-sustaining measures, a comprehensive directive that includes both a living will and an appointed agent provides greater flexibility. The agent can interpret the living will in unforeseen circumstances and make timely decisions consistent with your values. This combination reduces confusion for healthcare teams and family members and helps ensure medical treatment aligns with preferences even when scenarios fall outside the written instructions. Planning for complexity increases the likelihood of consistent outcomes in difficult circumstances.
Desire for Legal Clarity and Continuity
A comprehensive directive offers enhanced legal clarity by documenting treatment choices and naming a decision-maker, which helps prevent disputes and delays. In situations where family dynamics could complicate decision-making or when medical conditions evolve unpredictably, having both written guidance and an empowered agent reduces the potential for conflict. This approach supports continuity of care by ensuring someone is authorized to access medical information and speak with providers on your behalf, preserving the intent behind your medical directives and enabling smoother interactions with the healthcare system.
Benefits of Choosing a Comprehensive Healthcare Directive
A comprehensive healthcare directive provides a fuller framework for managing medical decisions during incapacity. It combines explicit treatment preferences with a designated decision-maker who can interpret those preferences when circumstances are not clearly addressed in writing. This combination reduces the risk of disagreements among family members and limits the need for court involvement. For Florin residents, the comprehensive approach offers practical benefits such as clearer communication with medical teams, faster decision-making in emergencies, and increased confidence that your wishes will be followed even in complex clinical situations.
Another important benefit of a comprehensive directive is the continuity it creates across care settings. With an appointed agent and written preferences, transitions between hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home care providers are easier because decision-making authority and guidance travel with the patient. This continuity reduces delays in care and improves coordination among providers. Additionally, the process of creating a comprehensive directive encourages meaningful conversations with loved ones, helping ensure that your values are understood and that your chosen agent feels prepared to act in accordance with your priorities.
Clarity for Medical Teams and Families
Clarity is one of the primary advantages of a comprehensive directive. When treatment preferences are documented and an agent is named, medical personnel can follow written instructions and consult the authorized decision-maker for interpretation. This reduces ambiguity during high-stress situations and allows families to focus on support rather than debate. Clear directives also decrease the likelihood of conflicts that can delay care, ensuring that medical decisions reflect the patient’s stated values. For Florin residents, this clarity translates into better alignment between treatment and personal priorities during critical moments.
Reduced Emotional Burden for Loved Ones
Having a comprehensive directive lessens the emotional strain placed on family members who would otherwise be required to guess what a loved one would have wanted. The presence of both a living will and a designated agent provides clear guidance and a responsible decision-maker to carry out those wishes. This can ease the pressure of making high-stakes medical choices and decrease family tension at a time that is already difficult. For those in Florin, this assurance helps preserve relationships and supports more peaceful, respectful handling of medical decisions.
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Practical Tips for Effective Healthcare Directive Planning
Discuss Your Wishes Openly
Open conversations about medical preferences reduce surprises and ensure the people you trust understand your values and priorities. Talk with potential agents, family members, and medical providers about scenarios that matter to you and the choices you would like respected. These discussions make it easier for your appointed agent to represent your wishes and help family members support the plan when decisions arise. Regular dialogue also helps identify who is best suited to serve as your healthcare agent and prepares them to speak confidently with clinicians when the time comes.
Keep Documents Accessible
Review and Update Regularly
Life changes such as marriage, divorce, diagnosis of a new condition, or a shift in personal preferences can affect your healthcare decisions. Regularly reviewing and updating directives keeps them aligned with current wishes and ensures designated agents remain appropriate choices. Revisit your documents every few years and after major life events, confirm that witness and signature requirements remain satisfied, and redistribute updated copies to relevant parties. Ongoing review promotes confidence that your healthcare plan stays current and will continue to guide care as you intend.
Reasons to Create Healthcare Directives in Florin
Establishing healthcare directives prevents uncertainty about your medical treatment preferences and provides legal means for honoring those preferences when you cannot communicate. These documents reduce the risk of family disagreement, ensure that a chosen agent has authority to act, and help medical teams understand the appropriate scope of care. For Florin residents, clear directives support prompt decision-making in emergencies and promote consistency across care settings. Preparing these documents proactively safeguards personal autonomy and protects loved ones from the weight of making unprepared decisions during stressful times.
Healthcare directives also allow you to tailor instructions to your values around life-sustaining treatment, comfort care, and other clinical choices. They facilitate smoother interactions with hospitals and care facilities by providing written guidance and an authorized decision-maker. This preparedness can be especially valuable for individuals with chronic conditions, those anticipating major medical procedures, or anyone who wishes to leave clear instructions about end-of-life preferences. Ultimately, directives offer peace of mind by ensuring that your medical care will reflect your stated goals and priorities.
Common Situations Where Healthcare Directives Are Recommended
Healthcare directives are recommended for anyone who wants control over medical decisions if they become incapacitated, but they are especially important in situations like major surgery, progressive illness, or advanced age. They are useful before procedures that carry risk and for individuals managing chronic or terminal conditions. Directives also benefit those who travel frequently or live alone, as well as caregivers who need clear legal authority to make timely medical choices. Having these documents in place prepares you and your family for unexpected health events and supports decision-making aligned with your wishes.
Before Major Medical Procedures
Prior to surgery or significant medical interventions, establishing healthcare directives clarifies your treatment preferences and ensures an appointed agent can act if complications occur. This preparation provides guidance about resuscitation, life support, pain management, and other critical choices that may arise in the operating room or recovery period. Sharing directives with the surgical team and loved ones reduces uncertainty and ensures that decisions about sudden changes in condition reflect your documented wishes, facilitating more coordinated and confident care during high-stakes situations.
Managing Chronic or Progressive Illness
For those living with chronic or progressive conditions, healthcare directives provide a clear plan for future decision-making as the disease evolves. Documenting preferences about the use of life-sustaining treatments, palliative options, and comfort-focused care helps guide clinicians and family members when symptoms worsen or capacity declines. An appointed agent who understands the patient’s values can make day-to-day decisions in alignment with the person’s long-term goals, which reduces stress for caregivers and promotes consistency in how care is managed over time.
Planning for Age-Related Health Changes
As people age, the possibility of cognitive decline or sudden incapacity increases, making healthcare directives an essential part of preparedness. These documents ensure medical choices continue to reflect personal values even if the individual loses decision-making capacity. Naming an agent and setting out treatment preferences helps keep medical care consistent with the person’s priorities, prevents unnecessary legal disputes, and gives family members a roadmap to follow. Early planning reduces the burden on loved ones and improves the likelihood that care aligns with the individual’s long-term wishes.
We Are Here to Help Florin Residents with Healthcare Directives
Why Choose LA Estate Plans for Your Healthcare Directive Needs
LA Estate Plans offers a client-focused process designed to help Florin residents document medical preferences clearly and practically. We take time to understand each person’s priorities, guide conversations with potential agents, and prepare documents that comply with California requirements. Our approach emphasizes careful drafting, proper execution with witnesses, and thoughtful distribution so directives are available and effective when needed. We work to make planning straightforward and respectful of your values, providing attentive support throughout the preparation and signing process.
When creating healthcare directives, details matter. LA Estate Plans assists with identifying scenarios to address, clarifying language in living wills, and ensuring the durable power of attorney for healthcare grants appropriate authority. We also advise on practical steps like sharing copies with medical providers and maintaining accessible records. Our guidance helps reduce the chance of misunderstandings and increases the likelihood that your preferences will be honored in a range of clinical situations. This practical support helps your designated agent carry out decisions in line with your wishes.
Beyond document preparation, we provide follow-up recommendations for reviewing and updating directives as life events occur. We help clients set reminders to revisit documents after major changes such as marriage, diagnosis of a new condition, or changes in relationships. We also assist in communicating updates to relevant parties and ensuring new versions replace older copies. This ongoing attention helps maintain the effectiveness of the healthcare directive over time and ensures your medical plan remains consistent with your current values and circumstances.
Contact LA Estate Plans to Secure Your Healthcare Wishes in Florin
Our Process for Preparing Healthcare Directives
Our process is structured to ensure clarity, compliance, and confidence in your healthcare directives. We begin with an intake conversation to learn about your values and medical preferences, then draft the living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare tailored to your needs. After reviewing drafts with you and your chosen agent, we guide proper signing and witnessing according to California law and advise on distribution to healthcare providers and family. This step-by-step approach ensures documents are ready to be used when necessary and that your wishes are clearly documented.
Step One: Initial Consultation in Florin
The initial consultation gathers background information about your health priorities, family situation, and the people you trust to make decisions on your behalf. We ask targeted questions to help you articulate the types of care you would accept or decline and discuss scenarios where directives become operative. This session also includes explanation of California signature and witness requirements and guidance on practical next steps to prepare documents that reflect your values. The goal is to build a document foundation that is meaningful, enforceable, and easy for others to follow.
Discussing Your Medical Preferences
During the initial meeting we review your personal priorities, such as preferences for life-sustaining treatments, comfort care, and pain management. We help you identify language that communicates those choices clearly and explore specific medical scenarios so your instructions will be actionable. We also discuss how your wishes might apply in sudden emergencies as well as long-term care situations. This conversation ensures your living will reflects realistic and understandable directions for clinicians and loved ones to follow when capacity is lost.
Choosing and Preparing Your Healthcare Proxy
Selecting a healthcare proxy involves considering who will be available, trustworthy, and able to communicate effectively with medical providers and family members. We discuss responsibilities the agent will assume and encourage conversations between you and the chosen person so they understand your values and limitations. Preparing your proxy includes documenting backup agents and clarifying the degree of authority you wish to grant. This ensures your agent is well-informed and ready to carry out decisions that reflect your documented preferences.
Step Two: Drafting and Finalizing Documents
Once preferences and agents are chosen, we draft the living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare with language that is clear and consistent with California law. Drafting focuses on making instructions actionable and avoiding ambiguity that could hinder medical teams or agents. We then review the documents with you, adjust language as needed, and prepare them for proper execution. Attention to detail at this stage helps make the directive effective across different healthcare settings and minimizes the chance of disputes or misinterpretation.
Creating the Living Will Document
The living will spells out specific treatment preferences, such as choices about resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, and other life-sustaining measures. We draft the document to address likely scenarios while using language that medical professionals can apply in practice. Clarity in these instructions helps ensure that your wishes are respected and reduces the need for the agent to interpret broad or vague statements. We also provide guidance on how to communicate the living will to providers and loved ones.
Preparing the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
The durable power of attorney for healthcare appoints the agent who will make decisions when you cannot. We prepare this document to clearly delegate authority, name alternates, and address the scope of decision-making power. Proper execution includes signing, witnessing, and following California procedural rules so the document will be accepted by hospitals and other providers. We also advise on best practices for informing the appointed agent and providing them with access to copies and relevant medical information.
Step Three: Review, Execution, and Distribution
After drafting, we conduct a final review to confirm accuracy and alignment with your intentions, then assist with the formal signing process required under California law. We provide instructions for witness selection and advise on optional steps like notarization where appropriate. Once signed, we help distribute copies to your healthcare proxy, family members, and medical providers, and recommend how to keep documents accessible. This final stage ensures directives are enforceable and available when decisions must be made.
Final Review Session
The final review session verifies that the documents reflect your expressed wishes and that any questions from you or your agent are addressed before signing. We walk through hypothetical scenarios to confirm how directives will operate in practice and ensure the agent understands their responsibilities. This meeting also provides an opportunity to correct any ambiguities and to discuss distribution plans so that medical providers and family members will have access to the documents if needed.
Executing and Sharing the Documents
We guide you through signing and witness procedures required by California law to make sure the documents are valid and recognized by healthcare institutions. After execution, we recommend providing copies to your primary care physician, hospital records, and your appointed agent, as well as keeping a copy in a secure but accessible location. We explain practical steps for carrying summaries and informing loved ones to improve the chance directives are located and honored during an emergency or prolonged care situation.
The Proof is in Our Performance
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Directives in Florin
What is the difference between a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare?
A living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare serve complementary roles in medical decision planning. A living will records specific treatment preferences, addressing interventions you would or would not want under certain medical conditions, such as preferences about life-sustaining treatments and resuscitation. It provides direct instructions to medical teams that can be applied when those exact circumstances occur. A durable power of attorney for healthcare appoints a trusted individual to make decisions on your behalf when you are incapacitated. This agent interprets your values and living will in situations that may not be perfectly anticipated by written instructions, communicates with providers, and ensures that your choices are implemented. Together these documents provide clear guidance and an authorized decision-maker to act when needed.
Can I change or revoke my healthcare directive after it is signed?
Yes, you can change or revoke your healthcare directive at any time while you have the capacity to do so. Changes should be made in writing and follow any formal requirements applicable in California, such as re-signing with proper witnessing if needed. It is important to clearly revoke earlier versions and replace them with updated documents to avoid confusion. After revising a directive, distribute updated copies to your healthcare proxy, family members, and medical providers so everyone has the current version. Communicating changes verbally as well as providing the revised document helps ensure that your most recent preferences are known and respected when decisions arise.
Who should I appoint as my healthcare proxy?
You should appoint a person you trust to act as your healthcare proxy—someone who understands your values, can communicate effectively with medical teams, and is willing to advocate for your preferences. Consider availability, emotional composure in high-stress situations, and ability to make decisions that align with your wishes. Discussing scenarios and expectations with the person before naming them helps ensure they are comfortable taking on the role. It is also wise to name an alternate agent in case your first choice is unavailable. Make sure your chosen agent has access to copies of the directive and knows where your medical information is kept. Clear communication reduces the risk of misunderstandings and enables your proxy to make choices that reflect your priorities.
Are healthcare directives legally recognized in California?
Yes, properly executed healthcare directives are legally recognized in California and provide a legal framework for making medical decisions when an individual cannot do so. To be effective, documents should follow state procedural requirements, including proper signatures and witness attestations. When done correctly, directives provide direction to medical providers and legal authority for the appointed agent to act on the patient’s behalf. Hospitals and care facilities in California generally accept valid directives, and having one on file can streamline decision-making. It is helpful to provide copies to your primary care physician and local hospital so they can place the directive in your medical record and have immediate access when needed.
How often should I review my healthcare directive?
It is advisable to review your healthcare directive regularly, at least every few years, and after any major life event such as marriage, divorce, a significant health diagnosis, or changes in relationships that might affect your choice of agent. Preferences about medical treatment can change over time, and periodic review ensures the document continues to reflect current wishes. When you review the directive, confirm that contact information for your agent is accurate and that the document language still matches your values. If updates are necessary, prepare a revised directive and distribute it to your agent, family members, and healthcare providers so everyone has the most recent version.
What happens if I do not have a healthcare directive?
Without a healthcare directive, decisions about your medical care may fall to family members or a court-appointed guardian who may not know your specific preferences. This can lead to uncertainty, disagreement, and delays in treatment while loved ones determine the best course of action. Lack of documented instructions also increases the risk that medical choices will not reflect your personal values. Having a directive reduces stress on family members by providing clear guidance and an authorized decision-maker. It helps medical teams act in accordance with your wishes and can prevent disputes that might otherwise arise when preferences are unknown or contested.
Does a healthcare proxy have authority over my financial decisions?
No, a healthcare proxy’s authority is limited to medical and healthcare decisions. Financial matters are handled separately through documents such as a durable power of attorney for finances or a trustee designation if trust assets are involved. It is important to prepare appropriate documents for different types of decisions so authorized persons have the proper legal authority to act in each domain. If you want one person to handle both health and financial matters, you must prepare separate documents addressing each area and ensure they are executed properly. Clear documentation prevents confusion about the scope of authority and protects both medical and financial interests.
Who should receive copies of my healthcare directive?
Provide copies of your healthcare directive to your appointed agent, immediate family members, and your primary care physician. You may also give a copy to any specialists who manage ongoing care and to the hospital where you are most likely to receive treatment. Keeping copies accessible ensures that the directive can be located quickly in an emergency and that providers are aware of your documented wishes. Consider maintaining both physical and secure digital copies and telling your agent where these documents are stored. A wallet card summarizing key preferences and listing your agent’s contact information can also help ensure that your wishes are discovered in urgent situations.
Do healthcare directives cover mental health decisions?
Healthcare directives can address mental health treatment as part of broader medical preferences, and you can include instructions about psychiatric care and related interventions if you wish. Being specific about mental health preferences helps ensure that your treatment aligns with your values in both physical and psychological contexts. Clear wording is especially important when addressing mental health to avoid ambiguity in clinical decision-making. Discuss your mental health preferences with your appointed agent and healthcare providers so they understand how you want decisions handled. If necessary, consider specialized forms or language that explicitly address mental health choices and crisis interventions to guide clinicians and your agent during challenging situations.
Do healthcare directives need to be notarized in California?
Notarization is not required for healthcare directives in California, but the documents must be signed by the principal and witnessed by two adults who are not named as the healthcare agent. Following the witness requirements helps ensure the directive is recognized and accepted by healthcare institutions. Although notarization is optional, some people choose it for an additional layer of formality. Regardless of notarization, proper execution and distribution of the directive are what make it effective. Ensure witnesses meet California criteria and keep copies with your medical records and with the person you have appointed to act on your behalf so the directive can be located and used when needed.