Living Wills Law Firm O’Fallon Missouri

Your living will is one of the most important documents you will create in your life, and if you need the help creating one, you can reach out to a living wills law firm in O’Fallon Missouri from Legacy Law Center. This document gives you peace of mind knowing that your loved ones and a court will know what to do in the circumstances of you being unable to make decisions for yourself before you pass away. And while living wills may seem like something simple, there are a few things you need to know when creating your living will. Additionally, you may be writing your living will as part of your estate plan, and when this is the case, an estate planning law firm O’Fallon, Missouri can help. Here are five things you should know about wills.

1. The definition of a living will.

First, let’s define a living will. A living will is simply a document that states your wishes if you are made ill, injured, or incapacitated in some way and are no longer able to articulate what you want. This may be because of a disease–like Alzheimer’s–or it could be because of a brain injury you sustained.

2. Do you need a lawyer to create a living will?

The short answer is no, you do not need a lawyer to create a living will. However, it can be incredibly helpful to create your living will with an attorney from the living wills law firm O’Fallon, Missouri trusts. You can quickly write something on a sheet of notebook paper, sign it in the presence of a witness, and call it a living will. The tricky part comes when and if your living will is every contested. You want to make sure that your living will holds up in court if contested and the best way to ensure this is if you have a lawyer create the document for you. This will help if you are unable to defend your living will.

3. How does death impact a living will?

While many people confuse a living will with a last will and testament, the two wills are actually not the same thing. Your last will and testament will go into effect after you pass away. Your living will is in effect during the time that you are alive. With the exception of giving someone power of attorney to decide organ donations, your living will is no longer pertinent after you die. Not surprisingly, this process can cause disputes amongst family members and it is incredibly helpful to have someone from a living wills law firm in O’Fallon Missouri on your side.

4. Can I file a joint living will?

If you are married, you may be wondering if you can file a joint living will like you can file a joint last will and testament. However, your living will should instruct what to do after you specifically suffer from a medical condition that incapacitates you. You can name your spouse as the person to make decisions for you in the event that this happens. An O’Fallon Missouri living wills law firm can help you navigate this.

5. When should I update my living will?

You don’t need to be constantly updating your living will, but know that the most current, legal living will is used at the time of incapacitation. So, if you have had any major life changes after you created your living will, it’s probably best to update it. For example, if you created your living will after you got married, named your spouse as someone to take care of you in the event of an injury, then got divorced, you will need to update your living will to make sure you are in the rights hands.

For more information on how Legacy Law Center, a living wills law firm in O’Fallon Missouri can help you with your living will, call our office today.