A last will and testament might be the document that District of Columbia residents understand as a vital part of estate planning. While it may be, there are other documents that people may want to have. A living will could be essential for those worried about medical directives and health care decisions when incapacitated.
Setting up decisions in a living will
A living will allows someone to put medical decisions in a legal document that may come into play when they cannot communicate their wishes due to incapacity. Some might wonder what the difference is between a living will and a health care proxy. A health care proxy moves those decisions to a representative who makes the decisions on the person’s behalf.
A typical question some ask is, “Do I need a living will?” Different people may wonder about its necessity, but the document could have value in an emergency.
Accidents and unexpected medical issues could leave someone incapacitated. Those worried about how health care decisions will play out if something occurs may wish to consider drafting a living will, along with other estate planning contracts. Persons currently diagnosed with a challenging medical condition may want to move forward with drawing up such documents.
Additional questions to ask
When engaged in estate planning, it might be a good idea to ponder a few additional questions about a living will. One vital question may center on what to put into the document. The document could include information about a specific medical condition to provide information to surviving family members. The document may address decisions regarding breathing machines and such.
People might seek insights on where to store a living will and who to inform that such a document exists. Effective planning could cover many areas of concern regarding this document.