A living will in Kewanee, Illinois, occasionally referred to as a "healthcare directive" is a legal document instructing those concerned (family, doctors, etc.) on how you want to be viewed if you become unable to make your wishes known due to physical or mental incapacity.

A living will can be extremely significant in avoiding painful, expensive, and time-consuming disagreements between your family members.

For instance, many people state that they would not want to be kept alive by artificial means if they are in a vegetative state, and have no decent chance of recovering. Others, however, would like to be kept alive if they have any chance, no matter how small, of recovery. If your wishes on this matter aren't known, your doctor or family members might have no idea what you would have wanted, and may make a determination that goes against your wishes.

If a person's preferences aren't known by his or her family, they might have to make an educated guess. Of course, with limited information, it's completely possible for 2 family members to come to two completely different conclusions, with no way of knowing which one is correct. Making your wishes known in advance can help you prevent all this.

How to Create A Living Will in Kewanee, Illinois

Before initiating the process, you should make your wishes extremely clear to your family. If your family is cognizant of your wishes well in advance, it will probably be much easier for them to accept the provisions in your living will, even if they don't agree with them.

You then need to actually draft your living will. This can be made much easier if you have an accomplished Kewanee, Illinois attorney who practices health law or wills and trusts help you. Even though a simple living will is not terribly difficult, having professional assistance is always advisable.

Living wills typically have to follow the same formalities as regular wills (the ones that distribute a person's property after their death).

While these procedures are not identical between individual states, there are some common similarities. For instance, both testamentary and living wills normally need to be witnessed and signed by 2 people who have no direct interest in your will.

Do I Need A Kewanee, Illinois Living Will Attorney?

While not strictly necessary, a seasoned estate-planning lawyer in Kewanee, Illinois can be extremely helpful in the process of drafting a living will. An attorney will know the intricacies of local law, and will help you draft a document that, to the extent possible, will ensure that your wishes with respect to your own healthcare are followed.