Altering Your Living Will: What to Know

No matter how much we dread it, sickness and accidents do occur. We can’t always decide our treatment preferences, especially when ill or unconscious. Remember, the freedom to decide is a human right guaranteed to all.

How do you maintain the right to decide? The answer is by having a living will. Be it a new or long-term relationship, the implementation of this right shouldn’t end. So, what should you consider before altering your will?

Ability to Change

Altering of the living will is possible at any moment. As a legal document, it is abiding and all changes are thus abiding. The living wills do not have set timelines or lengthy legal procedures when changing it. This makes changing them so easy. Depending on the changes, fill out a new form in the presence of witnesses and get it signed. Notify your doctor or healthcare provider of the changes or cancellations. It is done by providing them with the new document and nullifying prior documents. Partners or medical providers can’t act as witnesses to avoid conflict of interest.

Help Your Loved Ones Care for You

The will allows you to make difficult decisions. This grants your loved ones the opportunity to care for you better. Averting emotional and confusing choices made by your caregivers is easier. It creates confidence in your caregivers, knowing they are fulfilling your wishes.
A living will allow you to incorporate your loved one’s opinions and values. As valuable members of your life, their values and opinions matter. As a consolation during grief and crisis, your loved ones can still feel you cared.

Personal Values and Beliefs

Being married or in a relationship doesn’t end individual values. Even together, our individualism still lives. The desire to live a life or end it as per ones wishes can still be upheld.

Religious, socio or personal beliefs are integral to our identity. It provides assurances for the choices we make. Be it picking the treatment options, when to end our life during illness, or donating our body and its organs.

Bottom Line

A Living will defends the right to choose. Deciding to alter your living will is critical and needs clear guidance. Our team of experienced family lawyers can help you make that informed decision. You deserve to live peacefully, knowing your beliefs and values will be upheld.