Free Printable Living Will

Living Will blank forms – not good enough

We all like to save money, but some short cuts can be costly if we are not careful. Finding blank living will forms online and filling them out with the assumption that all living will forms are the same, can be one of these costly mistakes.

If you are looking for free printable living will forms online, make sure that you have a State specific living will form. Laws vary from one State to the next and the last thing you want, is to have your medical power of attorney told that they don’t have the legal right to make decisions on your behalf due to an invalid document.

Why State specific living will forms?

States have different requirements as to what needs to be included on a living will form, as well as varying terminology. Some States require that living will blank forms be notarized. Many States only require that your living will be witnessed by one or more people. In some instances, a State may require that at least one of your witnesses not be related to you.

Because States require their own variation of living will forms, it’s also important to update your living will documents if you change your residency to a another State.

It’s also a good idea to get your living will blank forms from a reputable company. Don’t make the mistake of using forms that do not meet the letter of the law. Most online resources have forms that will meet your needs and will allow you to avoid the high cost of attorney’s fees.

Most attorneys are using the same living will templates that you have access to. There is no reason to pay hundreds of dollars to an attorney who is going to fill in the blanks on a living will template. For some of the high fees that they charge, you think that they are going to the law library to start from scratch. This is simply not the case.

Many legal forms are available online at huge discounts from the fees you would pay an attorney. Of course you should use common sense and retain an attorney if the situation warrants it. But for living will blank forms, you should be fine if you make sure that your forms are State specific and up to date.

Medicare enrollment is a good reminder to get a free printable living will

When you turn 65, you enroll in Medicare. If you reach that point in your life and have not gotten a living will, this may be a good time to put one in place to make your wished known and protect your family.  Turning 65 or retiring near that age, is generally when we enter a different life stage and set our financial affairs in order so we don’t have to worry about it.

You sign up for Medicare, make sure your Social Security is being direct deposited, roll over your 401K or start to take distributions from your IRA. Why not take this time to set up your living will. A living will or advance directive will make your wishes known in the event that you are unable to communicate those wishes in the future.

A free printable living will avoids the attorney fees

Many people believe that it is necessary to hire an attorney and pay hundreds of dollars in fees to have a living will prepared. This is not the case. You can secure a free printable living will online that is completely legal and State specific. Most States do not even require that your free printable living will be notarized. Most often, it is only necessary to have your living will witnessed with one or two additional signatures.

When you find a free living will to print, you will also need to designate a medical power of attorney. This will be your health care surrogate. A health care surrogate will be empowered to make your wishes know if you are unable to do so. Free power of attorney forms are usually included when you find a free living will to print.

You may also want to consider a do-not-resuscitate order, detailing in which circumstances you do not want heroic measures performed or your life extended by artificial means. You can even go as far as to not allow CPR to be performed.

Once you have your free printable living will:

• Make at least two copies, one for you and one for your health care surrogate.
• Complete the forms in their entirety.
• Make sure your forms are witnessed properly.
• Keep you living will with your other important papers.
• Inform you health care provider that you have a living will.

Finding a free living will to print should be as automatic as enrolling in Medicare when you turn 65. Once you are on Medicare you generally find a Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage plan to protect you, why not find a free printable living will to do the same?

Medical Power of Attorney Forms appoint a health care surrogate

Who would you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you were incapacitated? This is the question that often goes unanswered due to procrastination. If you are thinking of preparing a living will, you also need to complete a medical power of attorney form.

A medical power of attorney form is a necessary compliment to a living will. Your living will makes your wishes known when you are unable to speak for your self and the power of attorney appoints the speaker.

There are several things to consider when naming a health care surrogate. First, you will need to have trust that the person named in your medical power of attorney forms will be able to follow your wishes as you have indicated. You not only need to take into consideration your surrogates potential emotional state, but also their ability to communicate effectively with health care providers and other concerned parties, namely your family who you did not appoint as your health care surrogate.

Choose wisely who will have medical power of attorney

You can always amend your medical power of attorney forms, but it’s easier to make the right choice to begin with. Before naming a health care surrogate, it’s recommended that you have a discussion with your potential choice and let them know that you would like to name them as a health care surrogate.

Reviewing your living will with your candidate to let them know ahead of time exactly what type of medical procedures you would like and which procedures you would like withheld will give a you a clear idea whether or not they would be comfortable speaking on your behalf.

Once you have named someone as your medical power of attorney, you need to keep them apprised of any changes you may make to your living will. As technology changes, you may want to amend your living will from time too time and your health care surrogate needs to be kept abreast of any changes.

If your health care surrogate is not a regular part of your life, like someone other than your spouse or one of your children, you need to stay in contact to make sure they are still able to perform their duties.

Also if your relationship changes with your health care surrogate you should amend your medical power of attorney form. You may not want your former spouse or someone with who your relationship has soured calling the shots.

Consider appointing two people to have medical power of attorney

It may be a good idea to appoint two health care surrogates. This way, if one is unable to fulfill their duties, you will have the second. Also, it could also work as a checks and balances system to make sure that your wishes are followed to the letter.

Whether you choose one or two health care surrogates, make an informed choice and don’t procrastinate when it comes to naming a medical power of attorney.