Living Will Lawyer Chester

A living will allows you to clearly communicate your healthcare preferences before a medical crisis occurs. At Brandywine Estate & Probate Lawyer, our experienced living will lawyer works with clients throughout Chester to create legally sound directives that reflect their values and choices. Take control of your medical care—call 484-285-5707 to schedule a consultation and get started.

Steps to Take When Setting Up a Legally Binding Living Will

Planning for the future includes more than just deciding who inherits your property. It also involves making choices about your medical care, especially if a time comes when you can’t speak for yourself. A living will allows you to outline those decisions in advance.

In Pennsylvania, a living will is known as an advance healthcare directive. This legal document gives instructions to your medical team and family members regarding the types of treatments you want—or don’t want—if you’re ever unable to communicate due to serious illness or injury. Understanding how to create a valid living will can ensure your wishes are respected during difficult times.

Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Understand What a Living Will Covers

A living will focuses on future medical decisions, particularly in life-threatening situations where you are no longer able to express your preferences. It can specify:

Whether you want life support or to be kept alive by machines
If you would accept artificial nutrition or hydration
Your views on resuscitation (CPR)
How aggressively you want doctors to treat your condition
Pain relief options and palliative care preferences

It does not deal with financial decisions, property, or the appointment of guardians. For those matters, other estate planning documents are used. A living will is solely about your medical care and how you want it handled if you can’t speak for yourself.

Know Pennsylvania’s Requirements

Every state has different rules for creating valid advance directives. In Pennsylvania, the document must meet certain legal standards to be enforceable. The key requirements include:

You must be at least 18 years old or legally emancipated
You must be of sound mind when creating the document
The living will must be signed by you
It must be witnessed by two adults
It does not need to be notarized, although that can add an extra layer of legitimacy

Your witnesses cannot be the people you name in the directive to make medical decisions. Ideally, they should be neutral individuals who are not directly involved in your care or financial matters.

Appoint a Healthcare Agent if You Choose

Although a living will outlines your treatment preferences, it does not automatically give someone else the authority to act on your behalf. If you want someone to make healthcare decisions when you’re unable, you’ll need to create a durable healthcare power of attorney alongside your living will.

This person, known as your healthcare agent or proxy, should be someone you trust deeply. They’ll work closely with your doctors and be responsible for following your instructions or making decisions based on what they believe you would want.

Combining a living will with a healthcare power of attorney provides stronger protection. Together, they give clear instructions and name someone who can advocate for you.

Think Through Your Preferences Carefully

It’s important to spend time thinking about your values and what kind of care you would want in different medical situations. Consider asking yourself:

Would I want to be kept alive by a ventilator with little hope of recovery?
How do I feel about feeding tubes or other artificial means of nutrition?
Do I want doctors to try every possible treatment, or would I prefer comfort-focused care?
Are there specific religious or ethical beliefs I want reflected in my care?

You don’t have to answer every possible scenario, but providing as much guidance as you can makes things easier for your healthcare providers and your family.

Talk to Your Family and Doctor

Once you’ve made your decisions, have conversations with the people who may be involved in your care. This includes your spouse, children, healthcare agent, and primary physician.

Explaining your living will in your own words helps prevent confusion or disagreements later. These discussions can also bring peace of mind to your loved ones. If they know exactly what you want, they won’t have to guess or make tough choices during a crisis.

Involving your doctor is just as important. They can walk you through possible outcomes and help you understand what different treatments involve. They should also have a copy of your living will in your medical records so they can refer to it quickly if necessary.

Put It in Writing

After you’ve thought through your preferences, talked with your loved ones, and reviewed your options, it’s time to create the actual document. You can draft a living will with the help of an estate planning lawyer to make sure everything is legally sound.

The document should clearly state:

Your name and confirmation that you are of sound mind
The specific medical treatments you want or do not want
Any special instructions related to religious beliefs or personal values
The name of your healthcare agent if you are appointing one
Your signature and the date
The signatures of two adult witnesses

Make several copies once the document is completed and signed. Keep the original in a safe but accessible place. Give copies to your healthcare agent, primary doctor, and anyone else who should know your wishes. You might also carry a card in your wallet that notes you have a living will and where to find it.

Review and Update When Needed

A living will is not a one-time document. You should review it every few years or whenever there is a major change in your life. This includes:

A new diagnosis or health condition
Marriage or divorce
Death of your healthcare agent
Moving to another state
A shift in your personal beliefs

If you decide to make changes, create a new version with a current date and destroy the old copies. Notify your healthcare provider and family members that the document has been updated.

The Role of Legal Guidance

While it’s possible to create a basic living will on your own, working with an estate planning lawyer gives you confidence that everything is legally correct and customized to your needs. A lawyer can help you:

Draft the document using proper legal language
Ensure it meets all state requirements
Coordinate it with your other estate planning documents
Avoid vague language that might cause confusion later

Your attorney can also help you understand how a living will fits into the broader plan for your estate and healthcare decisions.

Ensure Your Wishes Are Respected with a Living Will Attorney

Preparing a living will empowers you to make important healthcare decisions ahead of time. At Brandywine Estate & Probate Lawyer, our living will attorney works with clients in Chester to craft legally sound directives that reflect their medical preferences. Take the next step toward peace of mind by calling 484-285-5707 for a personalized consultation.