When it comes to medical treatment, everyone has an opinion. Unfortunately, those opinions are often left on the discussion floor rather than put into writing. A Living Will is the best way to make your requests for medical treatment and wishes for end-of-life care legal. If you're ready to start planning a Living Will, be sure to contact Eldreth Law Firm, PLLC.
What is a Living Will?
A living will is a written statement detailing a person's desires regarding their medical treatment in circumstances in which they are no longer capable of expressing their informed consent, especially an advance directive.
While many people often think their desires are well-known by their loved ones, a Living Will puts those wishes into writing so that your family isn't left with the burden of making decisions on your behalf. Decisions that could leave them estranged or traumatized for years if they aren't explicitly written. Stipulating your end-of-life decisions in a Living Will makes what is often a difficult time just a little bit easier for the entire family.
Estate Planning | LAWYER IN RALEIGH NC
Within a Living Will, you are able to document your wishes for medical intervention, life-sustaining devices, and more. We find that many people have a strong opinion one way or another towards the use of ventilators or respirators that can prolong life during a life-threatening emergency. While some individuals are all for any medical intervention that might save their life, others believe that if it is "their time," they'd rather die than be connected to a machine.
If creating a Living Will makes you uncomfortable, we get it. However, should you leave your wishes undocumented, the decision of whether or not life-sustaining devices are used in the event of an emergency will fall on your family and loved ones. Right or wrong, the best way to make sure that your preferences around medical care are honored is to write a Living Will.
Writing down your final wishes regarding medical procedures you do or don’t want, in the event of any of the following issues, is absolutely critical in making sure your family isn't in a position to make difficult medicial decisions on your behalf. These include:
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Irreversible coma
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Terminal illness issues
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Trauma that leaves you unable to speak or think for yourself
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Trauma that leaves you unable to recover
Without a Living Will, your family is faced with a decision that might cause serious discordance. Many family members disagree on things such as what should happen and when it should occur. Making sure the decisions are already made allows your doctors and loved ones to follow with no issues.
If you're ready to start planning a Living Will, be sure to contact Eldreth Law Firm, PLLC. We are here to help you get your requests and wishes documented and ensure you don’t have any issues when it comes to stipulating your wishes.
Also, contact us concerning other parts of your estate plan, as well. Our lawyer in Raleigh NC can work with you to ensure you have everything documented in a valid estate plan, in the event you pass unexpectedly.
Eldreth Law Firm, PLLC | Lawyer in Raleigh NC
As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about estate planning. Also contact us to schedule a consultation if you have yet to start estate planning. It's never too early to make plans for your wishes upon death. In addition, our lawyer in Raleigh NC is here to help you with all your legal matters, whether it be estate planning, trademarking, copyrighting, or DWI issues.