Recently I was at a game catching up with friends. A friend recently died and invariably the subject of advanced health care directives (also called living wills) came up and I shared my “pitch” about how important a living will is.
I was talking to 4 people, ranging in age from 30-60, all of whom said that they don’t want extraordinary measures taken, and not one of them has executed a living will. So I asked them why. Answers ranged from “just haven’t had time” to “I don’t have an attorney” to “Isn’t it complicated?”
IS IT COMPLICATED TO HAVE A LIVING WILL?
I told them that it does not have to be complicated and that I think the single most important reason that they should make the time is that their family needs to know what their wishes are. When I started down the road of “what happens if you don’t have a living will and your family ends up fighting about your wishes” they started paying attention. This made me realize something – I think people miss the boat about who a living will protects. It protects you because it designates who should make decisions on your behalf. But that’s only part of it. Once all hope is lost for your recovery, the living will really isn’t about you anymore – it’s about your family.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A WILL TO HAVE AN ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE?
Now, typically, people take care of this advanced health care directive when they do their will. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can have this document prepared by itself and do a will at another time. If you aren’t ready to do a will but know your wishes as they relate to your medical care – I can help you with that. If you don’t want to come in for a consultation I can most likely get the relevant information over the phone and you will only have to come in to sign the document. Just make the call. Call our office at 855-9300 and set up at a time to talk to me.
Whether you need a basic will and power of attorney in Delaware or you have more complex needs such as the creation of a trust, please do not hesitate to contact Julie Murray. To schedule a consultation, please call 302-855-9300 (Georgetown) or 302-422-9300 (Milford) or 302-628-9300 (Seaford) or fill out the contact form on this site.