A living will, also known as a health care directive, or advance directive refers to a legal document letting someone state their wishes for end-of-life-medical care. Unlike other wills, a living will do not state how a person’s property will get divided at death. Instead, it states the person’s wishes if they cannot communicate medical care decisions on their own. The living will give invaluable information and guidance to family members and healthcare professionals when a seriously ill person needs treatment but cannot provide those directives to their medical care team.
If you need help writing a Utah living will speak with an attorney at Gordon Law Group. We are here to help with all of your estate planning needs.
What is a Living Will?
A living will is a document that outlines a person’s medical care preferences if they become incapacitated and cannot communicate this information. Though many believe a living will can wait until a person becomes ill, severe accidents and unexpected injuries can occur at any time. Having a living will have everything listed out in the event something unexpected happens and should not wait until it is too late.
If you are still debating on setting up a living will speak with a living will attorney to learn more and why this document is so important.
How Living Wills Work
In the event of a medical crisis and end-of-life instructions are needed, a living will can ease the pressure placed on the family or a person’s principal health care proxy. The living will lists out the steps and actions to take (or not to take) if a person becomes ill or injured and cannot make decisions on their own or verbally express those wishes. Having a living will ensure the family and health care providers know exactly what to do in various end-of-life situations.
How to Create a Living Will
To create a living will, you will need the free forms available through hospitals or nursing homes; plus, an attorney will have everything needed for writing a living will. Include information that will detail the following types of care:
- Life-prolonging medical care, such as blood transfusions, CPR, dialysis, administration of drugs, surgery, etc.
- Palliative care, such as helping reduce pain when foregoing life-prolonging treatments.
- Food and water administration if unconscious, such as receiving these items intravenously or not.
Once written, the person and two witnesses must sign the living will. One of the witnesses must not be a blood relative of the person or their spouse.
Because there are several requirements, hiring a Heber Utah attorney is best to help create a living will. Though it is a simple document that can be made without an attorney, having a trusted attorney by your side can help with all your estate planning needs.
How an Attorney Can Help
Heber estate planning attorneys can help write up advanced directives, providing all information needed to dictate a person’s end-of-life wishes. An attorney can discuss the options, write the paperwork, and help get all the necessary signatures. The attorney will also retain a copy if you lose your document or someone needs to access a copy.
Having these legal documents prepared can be complex, and hiring an attorney offers peace of mind knowing everything is done correctly, and someone will ensure your wishes are met.
Though it is not always something we want to do, taking time to discuss estate planning and writing a living will in Utah is best done before it is too late. Having a written living will ensures your wishes are met if you cannot communicate the care and medical treatment you want. For additional assistance with living will questions or establishment, contact the Gordon Law Group. We are here to help with all your living will needs.
