tennessee living wills
As part of your estate plan, you need to include a Tennessee Living Will or Advance Directive. These documents provide instructions regarding your preference for medical care and life-sustaining machines.
when to make a living will
You need to make your Tennessee Living Will or Advance Directive while you can still think for yourself and determine what kind of medical care you want. These papers tell your healthcare providers, friends, and family what you want to happen to you if you are ever incapacitated.
Given the nature of the Living Will, it is critical to create one as soon as possible.
what information does a living will cover?
A Tennessee Living Will should cover a few different possibilities.
First, whether you would like feeding and breathing machines to continue to provide nourishment even if your physician has determined you are in a terminal or vegetative state.
Second, whether you would like comfort care, which usually focused on pain relief, symptom control, and quality of life.
Third, whether you would like to donate any organs or tissues for transplantation.
Finally, whether you have any other specific wishes or instructions regarding your medical care.
These items are important healthcare decisions that you should make prior to an emergency.
LIFE SUPPORT
Whether you authorize the withholding or withdrawal of artificially provided food, water, or other nourishment or fluids.
ORGAN DONATION
Whether you desire to donate any or all of your organs or tissues for transplantation.
COMFORT CARE
Whether you authorize any ongoing comfort care, should your condition be terminal.
OTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Whether you have any other special instructions or desires, or whether you have any specific treatments that you do not wish to authorize.
requirements for execution
In order for a Tennessee Living Will to be effective, the form of signing has some specific requirements. First, the Living Will must be notarized or witnessed. If witnessed, the Living Will must be signed in front of two other people. These people:
One of these people cannot be related to you by blood or marriage.
Cannot receive anything you own after you die.
Cannot be your doctor or any of the staff who work in the place where you get health care.
don’t wait.
If you do not have a Living Will in effect, or if you would like to discuss all of your estate planning needs, download our free Estate Planning Checklist and schedule a consultation today.