When Would It Be a Good Idea to Create a Living Will?

 Posted on November 08, 2023 in Estate Planning

Creating a living will is an essential part of your estate plan. It ensures that your healthcare preferences are respected when you are ill and cannot express your wishes. By planning ahead, you relieve your loved ones of difficult decisions during this stressful time. It is essential to start thinking about your future and what happens when you are not around. One crucial aspect of this estate planning is the creation of a living will. A Texas estate planning attorney should be able to help you with the process.

What Is a Living Will?

A living will is a legal document that outlines your healthcare and medical treatment wishes, primarily when you are unable to communicate or make decisions due to illness or injury. In Texas, an advance directive for physicians is the standard form. To make it valid, you need to sign it in the presence of two witnesses. Its terms come into effect only when you become incapacitated.

What Issues Could a Living Will Address?

Your living will can address various critical situations including:

• Terminal illnesses – If you are diagnosed with a terminal you can specify whether you want all forms of treatment withheld except those that ease your pain and comfort. You may also choose to receive treatment to extend your life as much as possible.
• Irreversible conditions – If you have a condition that will result in your death without life-sustaining treatment and you cannot make decisions for yourself, your living will allow you to state your preferences. You can choose to forgo life-sustaining treatment and focus on comfort, or you can opt for treatment to delay your death.
• Hospice care – Your living will specify that if you or your representative decide on hospice care, life-sustaining treatments will be discontinued, and your care will focus on keeping you comfortable.
• Authorization for medical decisions – If you have not created a medical power of attorney, your living will can designate a person to make medical decisions on your behalf.
• Imminent death – In situations where a doctor determines that you have only minutes or hours to live, your living will ensure that unnecessary treatments are withheld, maintaining only your comfort.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fort Worth, TX Estate Planning Lawyer

At Gonzalez Law, PLLC, we understand that estate planning can seem overwhelming. We are here to help you make informed decisions about your future. We can assist you in creating a living will that accurately reflects your wishes and ensures you and your family are prepared for whatever the future holds. Contact a Fort Worth, TX estate planning lawyer today at 817-349-7330 to schedule a complimentary