You are here: Home Planning Ahead Living Wills 101 What Is A Living Will?
Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Living Wills 101

What Is A Living Will?

Next » « Previous

2/13

A Living Will is a legal document which communicates your desires about your health care if you become unable to communicate by any means and the likelihood of death is imminent.

Virtually all states have laws requiring doctors and other health care providers to abide by what you provide in a Living Will if the document is properly executed.

In most states, even your close family members cannot override your wishes as expressed in a Living Will.

To be properly executed, a Living Will must meet each of the following requirements:

  • Conform to the laws in the state where you receive treatment.
  • Be signed by you at a time when you are competent to sign contracts and execute legal documents.
  • Be signed in the presence of witnesses and, in some states, a notary public.

Even if a Living Will is properly executed, it will have not become effective unless it is given to your doctor or other health care provider who is involved with your care when a decision about a treatment has to be made.


Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments

 

Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.

Characters remaining:

  • Allowed markup: <a> <i> <b> <em> <u> <s> <strong> <code> <pre> <p>
    All other tags will be stripped.