Austin Estate Planning Lawyer

The Purpose of a Living Will

A living will is a legal document that makes known a person’s wishes regarding medical treatments that can prolong one’s life. Not everyone finds themselves in a position where they need treatment to prolong their life, but those who do are not able to make the decision to receive or not receive such treatment in their current state.

If you don’t write a living will and something happens to prevent you from making decisions for yourself, your family will have to confront the burden of deciding whether or not to extend your life using extraordinary measures. This can be very difficult for any family. Often, family members are forced to guess what you would prefer, since many individuals never have such a discussion ahead of time. As family, they likely want you to remain alive as long as possible, but they may nonetheless be conflicted in trying to determine what is best for you.

Writing a living will can take all of the stress and conflict out of the equation by letting your loved ones know your exact preference in such a situation. Additionally, making the decision yourself can help the family with grieving and help them to move on. A living will not only allows you to make an important choice on your own but also can help your family tremendously during an already difficult period.

Contact Us

The requirements of a living will vary from state to state, so it is helpful to have an experienced lawyer help you with this important document. If you would like additional information on preparing a living will or would like the help of an experienced Austin estate planning lawyer, contact Slater, Kennon, & Jameson, LLP at 512-338-1100 to schedule an initial consultation.