A living will is an estate planning document that outlines your medical directives and end-of-life care wishes. By planning for potential incapacity, you can receive the medical care that you desire for yourself and provide your family with reassurance that they are honoring your choices.
What does a living will cover?
Your living will can give you the opportunity to decide on the following aspects:
- Specific goals for quality of life
- Preferences for CPR and other life-sustaining treatments
- Terms for organ and tissue donation
You also have the freedom to add particular notes relating to your religious beliefs, hospice care and burial arrangements. The document cannot contain instructions for assisted suicide.
It is important to remember that while a living will states your desired medical treatments, a healthcare power of attorney lets you name an agent to make medical decisions for you when you are no longer able to communicate them on your own.
How can I create a living will?
Any adult who is of sound mind and at least 18 years of age can craft a living will. Tennessee offers a free form that you can download online and fill in yourself. This updated template replaces the previous forms for living wills, healthcare powers of attorney, appointments of healthcare agents and advance care plans by combining them all into a single comprehensive document.
While you do not need a lawyer to create this document, a professional can help review your directives and ensure they are free of errors before you sign them in the presence of a notary public or two disinterested adult witnesses.
Can I amend my living will?
Yes, you can amend or cancel your directives at any given time, so long as you are mentally competent. To update your wishes, you need to draft a new version and sign it.
Once this step is completed, you must physically destroy the old version, along with any copies that you have previously distributed to your family and healthcare providers.
By understanding these legal requirements, you can create a plan for yourself and have your doctors, nurses and loved ones refer to it in the event that you suffer from an irreversible disease or a terminal condition.