A living will in Oakland, Tennessee 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.

A living will might prove essential in heading off painful and time-consuming disputes among family members. If your family has no clue as to how you would want a given situation to be handled, it's up to them to guess. Obviously, this can lead to severe disagreements. If family members know in advance what the patient wants, these disputes are far less likely.

For instance, many people would never want to be kept alive by artificial means if they are in a vegetative state with no chance of recovery. Some, on the other hand, might want to be kept alive indefinitely, because of the slight chance of a miraculous recovery. Obviously, this is a personal decision, and one choice is not "better" than the other. However, there is no middle ground between the two. You probably want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that, if such an issue comes up, your wishes (whatever they are) will be honored.

Even worse, individual family members might not be able to agree about what your wishes would be. Disagreements on a subject like this can cut very deep, and cause irreparable damage to family relations. If the patient's wishes are made clear beforehand, these disputes can be avoided most of the time.

How to Create A Living Will in Oakland, Tennessee

Before starting the process, you should make your wishes extremely clear to your family. If your family is aware 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 should then actually draft the will. To be sure that it is valid, you should have the help of an Oakland, Tennessee attorney who specializes in wills.

Typically, living wills need to follow the same formalities as testamentary wills (wills that dictate how one's property is to be distributed after death).

While these requirements are not identical between individual states, there are some common similarities. For example, 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 Oakland, Tennessee Living Will Attorney?

While not always necessary, a brilliant healthcare or wills attorney in Oakland, Tennessee can make this process much easier. Lawyers, obviously, understand the law. Because of this, it is much easier for them to avoid the legal pitfalls that can make a living will unenforceable.