A Guide to Making A Will

No one enjoys considering end-of-life situations like how long to stay on life support, but drafting a living will stating your wishes in this situation is a very good idea. A living will is also known as an advanced healthcare directive, and should not be confused with a last will and testament. A living will has nothing to do with how you want to allocate your assets after your death, and everything to do with your end-of-life wishes.

As many health care providers can confirm, all too often a family grapples with end-of-life decisions in the hospital. The reality of having to make life or death decisions for someone in the family can be overwhelming and is generally not the time that people are the most calm and rational. Having a living will as a guide can be extremely helpful in this stressful situation.

A living will authorizes two things in particular. First, it designates who will be the healthcare proxy, the person to make medical decisions on your behalf. Choose someone you trust to carry out your wishes, as well as make good decisions. The second thing a living will does is state how to handle your health care in the case of serious illness or injury. It is a good idea to discuss these options with a doctor, as the medical issues can be complicated.

Just like drafting a last will and testament, it is not necessary to hire a lawyer to make a living will. In both cases, it is not bad idea to at least seek some professional guidance on these important documents. Laws vary state to state on requirements for living wills. At the very least, spend some time researching several legal websites. Both the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association have guidelines to help families navigate some of the difficult decisions to be made in the case of serious injury or illness.

Discussing end-of-life issues with your family and your doctor is a very good idea. It's not a fun conversation, but an essential one to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone involved. The more aware family is of each other's wishes, the easier and more likely it is that they will be carried out to exact specifications. Drafting legal documents like a will and an advanced directive is about taking care of your loved ones when you are no longer physically able to do so. It may seem morbid, but in reality is both wise and generous.



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