Advance Directives: Planning for the Future
The Web has many resources to help you create advance directives, which are sometimes called advance health care or medical directives, and which often include a legal statement called a living will. This guide will help you learn the differences among the directives, where to find the right forms for your state, and how to talk to your family about these difficult topics.
Expand All Guide SectionsAdvance Directives Basics
Imagine you’ve been in an accident and have fallen into a coma from which doctors don’t ... read more »
Creating Advance Directives
Advance directives, with the exception of Do Not Resuscitate orders, require similar steps: obtain your state-specific form, fill it out, and then have it witnessed and notarized. DNRs, however, must be signed by a physician. Online, you can find help creating these documents, but consider having a lawyer or doctor look over the documents to make sure that they are adequate and that you will receive the type of care that you want.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Once your advance directive is filled out, witnessed, and notarized, be sure to make copies and tell loved ones where to find them. Don’t put the forms in your safe deposit box, because they may not be accessible in an emergency. Hospitals recommend bringing a copy of your advance directive with you if you are going to have a procedure done.
- If you’re creating a living will because you have been diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness, there may be special considerations that you should make depending on what you can expect from the progression of your condition. To learn more about a particular disease or condition, see the findingDulcinea Health Web Guide or, for terminal illnesses, see the findingDulcinea Terminal Illness Web Guide.
- There are plenty of sites that sell templates for legal forms; before you buy from one of these, check the site’s track record with the Better Business Bureau to make sure you’re getting forms from a reputable source.
Dulcinea's Picks
For forms and sample directives …
FindLaw
has sample living wills you can use as a basis for your own. There is a basic sample living will, a sample living will directive to physicians, a sample living will with designation of a surrogate, and a sample health care power of attorney. FindLaw also has overviews of the different state laws regarding living wills and links to the actual text of the laws.
MSN Money
’s article, “3 all-too-common flaws of living wills,” lets you know why some living wills don’t serve their purpose during a health crisis. The author points out the common flaws (including that they are “too vague”) and then offers steps for readers to take to ensure that their wills count when they are needed.
For state-by-state forms …
Caring Connections
is a site sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. This page has practical advice about preparing your advance directives and links to free state-specific advance directive forms.
CCH Incorporated
provides legal and tax information for businesses, but the company also offers a “Financial Planning Toolkit” that includes a page of links to state advance directive forms, living wills, and powers of attorney.
To make sure you’re prepared ...
Bankrate.com
has an article titled “Preparing your finances for death and disaster” that, although not about living wills specifically, has some good tips for getting your finances in order should something happen to you.
WebMD
’s article “Conversations Before The Crisis” uses specific family situations to give you ideas of how to talk with your family about your wishes (or their wishes) for end-of-life care. It reinforces the importance of letting family, close friends, and your physician know what your wishes are for your care, should something happen to you, so that there will be the least amount of stress possible on those you love.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
