A living will is another common estate-planning tool and is sometimes referred to as an advanced health care directive or personal directive. A living will is a written statement that details a person’s preferences about what medical treatment they would want in the event they could not communicate those preferences themselves. See A.R.S. § 36-3261.
A living will is often used as part of a comprehensive estate plan, and it can be used in conjunction with a medical power of attorney. A living will should be updated from time to time. It should be noted that if a person’s living will is not party of medical power of attorney, the living will must be verified in the manner set forth in A.R.S. § 36-3221.
A living will often contains statements about what the person would want in the event the person was in a terminal condition or an irreversible coma. For example, the person would state whether she wished to have her life prolonged to the greatest extent possible, or whether she simply wished to have care that would keep her comfortable but decline other measures that would prolong her life. These are highly personal decisions, and it is often helpful for a person creating a living will to consult with family, loved ones, and in certain cases religious advisors. Although these kinds of issues are often difficult to think about, doing so and planning ahead can avoid a whole host of issues that could create serious conflict in the future. Arizona statutes provide a sample living will, which can be found in A.R.S. § 36-3262.
The estate planning attorneys at Lancer Law Firm, provide legal services to clients on a variety of living will issues. Our attorneys can help draft or review a living will and other estate planning documents. And, in the unfortunate even a dispute arises, our attorneys can provide litigation services that aim to ensure you get a favorable outcome. Call today for a consultation (520) 352-0008 or email [email protected]