Create Your Living Will With A Reputable Las Vegas Lawyer
A living will is an essential part of a comprehensive estate plan that deserves careful consideration and professional guidance. If you have recently moved to Nevada from another state or your living will was prepared prior to October 1, 2009, you should speak with our attorney about creating a living will specific to Nevada’s current legal requirements.
What Is A Living Will?
A living will is a legal document, separate from your traditional will, that expresses your wishes concerning health care directives in advance under existing state law. This powerful document serves as your voice when you cannot speak for yourself, ensuring that your medical treatment preferences are known and respected by health care providers, family members and medical facilities.
Unlike your last will, which addresses the distribution of your assets after death, a living will focuses exclusively on medical decisions during your lifetime. It provides clear instructions about the types of medical interventions you would or would not want to receive under specific circumstances. This gives you control over your health care even when you are unable to communicate.
When Does A Living Will Apply?
Your living will becomes effective only under specific medical circumstances when you are incapacitated and unable to make decisions regarding your own health. It tells medical professionals and your health care representative whether you wish to receive life-sustaining treatment if you are terminally ill, seriously injured or in a coma.
The document allows you, as the principal, to decide in advance if you wish to continue receiving feeding tubes, ventilator breathing assistance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), dialysis, and other medical treatments if you are in a coma or persistent vegetative state. These are decisions that you should make thoughtfully and document clearly while you have the capacity to do so.
It is important to understand that a living will applies specifically to life-and-death medical situations and life-sustaining procedures. It does not apply to general health care treatments that do not involve life-sustaining procedures. This includes routine medical care, pain management or treatment for nonlife-threatening conditions.
Living Will Vs. Durable Power Of Attorney
While a living will is important, it is not as broad as a durable power of attorney for health care (also called a health care proxy). These two documents work together but do different things in your estate plan. Having both gives you the best protection.
A durable power of attorney for health care names a specific person to make medical choices for you when you cannot make them yourself. This chosen person has the power to make health care decisions beyond the life-or-death situations covered in your living will. For everyday health care treatments that do not involve life-sustaining procedures, you will use your durable power of attorney.
Doctors and medical staff prefer that you have both a living will and a durable power of attorney. This is so that they know your exact wishes about end-of-life care and who to ask when important medical questions come up during your treatment.
Customization And Legal Considerations
At the Law Offices of David A. Straus LLC, we will write your living will to match your religious and personal beliefs, values and medical choices. Every person has their own views on end-of-life care and your living will should reflect what matters most to you.
We can write down the decisions that doctors should make in different situations where they must make life and death choices about your health care. Our approach makes sure that your living will covers the specific situations that matter most to you, whether those involve certain medical conditions, treatment choices or religious beliefs.
This keeps family members from having to make tough choices during an already challenging time and prevents disagreements with doctors and other medical staff. It helps make sure that medical professionals respect and follow your wishes as you and your lawyer planned. A well-written living will is clear and easy to understand, which protects both you and your loved ones.
Schedule A Free Initial Consultation With A Las Vegas Attorney To Discuss Your Living Will
You must make these decisions before you become incapacitated, which could happen at any time. Please email or call us at 702-474-4500 to schedule a meeting with attorney David A. Straus.
