A living will in West Greenwich, Rhode Island can also be referred to as a "healthcare directive." Whatever the name, it is a document that lays out a person's wishes with respect to their medical care, in case they become unable to make their own choices.

Making a living will can save your family a great deal of grief. There are some pretty terrible instances that a living will can help you avoid. It's not uncommon for a patient to become incapacitated, leaving the doctors with only a few options. Members of your family might disagree over what you would want, leading to an extremely painful disagreement, which could have been easily avoided if they'd simply known.

For example, some people don't want to be kept on life support if they are in a vegetative state with no considerable chance of recovery. Others, however, might prefer to be kept alive as long as humanly possible. Another person's wishes might be something in between. In any case, if the family doesn't know what their loved one's wishes are, they may have to guess, which could lead to them making a decision that the patient would never have wanted.

Additionally, if family members have different opinions of what the patient would want, this can give rise to infighting. Disagreements on such a painful subject can tear families apart. If the patient's wishes are made clear in advance, such arguments and disputes are far less likely.

How to Create A Living Will in West Greenwich, Rhode Island

Of course, your loved ones should be immersed in the process. They can't make these choices for you, but they'll probably be more willing to accept your decisions if they feel that their voices were heard. In any event, if your family knows what to expect when your living will is executed, the process will probably be easier.

You should then actually draft the will. To be sure that it is valid, you should have the help of a West Greenwich, Rhode Island attorney who specializes in wills.

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

While these required protocols vary by state, there are a few common elements. For example, most wills and living wills need to be witnessed and signed by 2 people who have no direct interest in the subject matter.

Do I Need A West Greenwich, Rhode Island Living Will Attorney?

While it's not strictly required, it can be very helpful to have the counsel of an accomplished West Greenwich, Rhode Island attorney. A brilliant lawyer will help you navigate the local laws on this subject, making it much easier for your wishes to be implemented.