A living will does not necessarily have to be prepared by an attorney. Anyone can make a Living Will, provided they follow the relevant State regulations. However, it must be notarized by a competent and certified notary agent. So, get a Living Will drafted and notarized by a mobile notary in Orange County, California, Los Angeles, or any other place.
We will look in detail below at what a living will is and the necessary steps to prepare a living will.
What is a Living Will?
A living will is a document written by an individual in which the document maker conveys a guiding directive of the decisions and actions to take concerning health and medicare in case they are unable to make any decisions due to illness. It is a document that specifies a person’s wishes regarding medical care and health, especially nearing the end of their life.
What are the Steps to Making a Living Will?
You do not need to go to an attorney to prepare a living will. However, the document must be notarized by a competent notary agent of the relevant state.
Furthermore, a mobile notary in Orange County, or elsewhere can notarize your living will on the go, wherever you need. Making a living will is easy, and anyone can make it by following the steps below.
1. Determine Your Treatment Preferences
Before you start preparing your Living Will, you need to determine the types of medical decisions your will should include. It may address your treatment preferences regarding the type and extent of medical treatment you would want to undergo. For instance, what would be your preferences for chemotherapy, major and minor surgeries, radiation treatments, etc.?
You also need to ponder upon and decide on how any life support system should be used on you, for example, feeding through tubes, artificial respiration, etc. You also need to determine how long such a life support system must be used to help you stay alive.
You can also decide the extent to which you would prefer a natural death, in case you need a life support system. You may also determine whether you wish to donate any of your physical organs upon death. You may want to consult your doctor, attorney, and family for these critical issues.
2. Appoint an Agent Through Medical Power of Attorney
When you make a living will, you have the facility to appoint or create an agent, often known as a healthcare proxy or care agent. An agent will carry out your preferences and wishes and take the required decisions and actions on your behalf based on your advance directive.
In times of emergency, a healthcare proxy becomes a vital point of contact for the medical team. A proxy agent also makes decisions on your behalf on matters not covered by your living will.
3. Relevant Living Will Form As Per State Regulations
There is no legal requirement that a living will have to be prepared by an attorney. However, there may be a specific format of living will that one must follow. The format specifications may differ from state to state. Every state has an outlined living will form available. You need to get the relevant form according to state requirements and fill in the details outlined therein.
4. Fill out, Sign and Notarize
Your basic information, wishes, preferences, and details of your healthcare proxy, including their contact information, must be mentioned in your living will. It also should be attested by your signature.
After this, a mobile notary in Orange County, Dallas, New York, or anywhere else can notarize your living will. Ensure your will document is notarized to become legally valid in a court of law. A living will must be notarized by a competent certified notary agent to make it legal.
5. Store It Safely
Get enough and sufficient copies of your original notarized living will. Ideally, a copy of your will document should be available with you, your attorney, and your healthcare proxy agent. It is to ensure the smooth execution of your wishes and preferences in times of medical emergencies. You should ensure the original living will documents are kept safe and secure.
6. Update Any Changes In Preferences
If you decide to cancel or change your wishes and preferences at any time, you can do so by creating a new living will. In such a case, you should inform your attorney, family members, and healthcare proxy regarding the updated preferences. Ensure to destroy any copies of the old living will.
Wrap Up
Preparing a living will is easy, but you must get the basics right. After preparing the will document, search for a mobile notary in Orange County or any other place you live. Get it notarized and send copies to the concerned people. You have ensured that your wishes for end-of-life care are taken care of.