Making and Disseminating Your Living Will

A Living Will does not need the services of a lawyer. You must, however, sign your Living Will in the presence of a witness or notary public, who must also sign the document. The witness must be at least 18 years old, cannot be family (connected by blood, adoption, or marriage), cannot be included as a beneficiary in your Last Will and Testament, cannot be assigned as your health care agent, and cannot be a health care professional.

After you have signed and witnessed or notarized your Living Will, deliver one copy to your principal agent, one to your secondary agent, one to your doctor, and one to your local hospital. Keep the original document someplace secure and readily accessible. Make sure someone close to you understands where it is and how to get to it if you are hospitalized and unable to.

Make sure you discuss the directions and desires included in the Living Will with your agent before a medical emergency happens. Consult with your doctor to ensure that he or she knows and will respect your desires. Many people ask a doctor to create an order requiring other health care professionals to carry out the requirements of their Living Will.