By Guest Blogger, Erika R.

 

5 Tips for Creating a Living Will

A living will is an important legal document that can protect you if you become unable to consent to different medical treatments. A living will is a document that lists exactly what you approve of and what you want to avoid after a medical emergency. You should know about five tips for creating a living will.

Be As Specific As Possible

The first tip is to be as specific as possible when creating the living will. You will need to be incredibly detailed about your wishes. You might want to look at templates or other living wills to see just how specific you need to be. Do not rely on vague statements or broad directives. Those types of statements can tie the hands of healthcare providers or even lead to legal challenges.

Choose Healthcare Proxies and Guardians Carefully

You must name your guardians and healthcare proxy in your living will. Guardians will take care of your underage children. Healthcare proxies are empowered to make medical decisions for you. Always choose only trusted people for these positions to ensure you wishes are carried out exactly as described.

Tell Loved Ones Your Wishes Immediately

You want there to be no ambiguity about your living will once it is written. Sit down with family members and loved ones to talk about your wishes. Be certain that everyone understands exactly what you mean in your will. Let them read the document. Clear up any confusion. This will prevent major problems later if something happens to you.

Always Contact a Lawyer

You want to always allow a lawyer from a firm like Gittens & Associates to finalize your living will. A lawyer will be able to correct any vague language and will guarantee that the living will is a legally binding document that will stand up under scrutiny. Do not rely on any living will that was not reviewed by an experienced lawyer.

Regularly Revise or Update Your Living Will

Update your living will regularly whenever something changes in your life. Change your proxy or guardian if relationships fall apart. Change your directives if your feelings about certain medical practices evolve. Add new directives if technology changes. This will make certain that the document always reflects your latest wishes.

You want to have a living will at all times that is up-to-date and legally binding. You never want to leave your family in a situation where they must make medical decisions for you without knowing how you feel about specific treatments. A living will protects you and your family during very difficult periods.

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