living will/health care proxy

**skydivingchic** · 02-11-2011, 06:10 AM

In my opinion there is really no other way to go for this stuff than to get a lawyer and have it done right. Laws vary by state and an estate lawyer is in the best position to know this stuff. It is just too important to cheap out on. The last thing you want in the event that a living will is needed is to have a big court battle/drama on your hands because you (general you, not you specifically) used some cheap method you pulled off the internet or something.

DBF and I did this about 2 years ago. We each paid ~$400 for a will, an advance health care directive, and a change to the manner in which our condo is titled. So $800 total for all that. This was to a well established law firm in a high cost of living area.

I cannot stress enough to get this done NOW. Do not delay. You just never know when you will need it. DBF was in a serious accident about 6 months after we had put this in place. I was in a foreign country when his accident happened and the ICU would not tell me anything beyond that he was "stable". None of his family had yet gotten to the hospital. I was able to get his health care directive faxed to them so that they would have some guidance. It ended up not being relevant in his case as the trauma surgeon had already had to make the life altering decision on his own when DBF came into the hospital the night before. But because I was his first health care proxy, it did help in the eyes of the staff when I was able to make it back to the US. I was obviously someone he trusted to make decisions for him even if we weren't married as it was spelled out in his directive. I can't tell you how relieved I was to have had this paperwork in place - it spelled out what his wishes were and made it clear that I was a trusted person that the staff couldn't ignore or push aside.

Get yourself to a an estate lawyer and get this done.

**curvaciouskitti** · 02-12-2011, 08:22 PM

Thankyou, for your suggestion! Your story was a real eye opener. I gave it some thought and will work on this sooner rather than later, even if I have to spend some extra money. Because as you already know ... anything can happen and it's better to be safe than sorry. thanks again.

**asmom** · 02-13-2011, 11:18 AM

I don't know what state you live in but in Georgia, there is a free form you can download from the Department of Human Resources website and you only need two independent witnesses, it does not have to be drawn up by a lawyer or notarized to be legal. (I am talking about the medical power of attorney/living will which is one document in Ga.) Perhaps your state has something similar.

**minnie1928** · 02-13-2011, 12:46 PM

We downloaded free versions for POA & living will for my parents. Their financial situation was very simple and there wishes were not complicated. Funny thing is that with the POA is that most times all I do is say I have POA over my parents, only a few places actually wanted to see it and none of them actually read the document.

**curvaciouskitti** · 02-13-2011, 08:58 PM

Thankyou guys for your suggestions.

**MrPolarZero** · 02-14-2011, 03:03 PM

I think that there is no need to worry at this one. The rates are rather low and you will be able to accommodate the cost.

living will/health care proxy