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The Importance of Hiring a Chicago Estate Planning Attorney to Draft a Living Will

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The Importance of Hiring a Chicago Estate Planning Attorney to Draft a Living Will

Everyone is going to die at some point, but few people think about what will happen when they do. When you have a family, there can be disagreements over who gets what and how much. A living will is a legal document that can be put together by you and an estate planning lawyer Chicago to let people know precisely what your wishes are once you approach the end of your life. It can include anyone from doctors to family members, and it can even specify what type of medical treatments you want during that time.

Why You Need a Chicago Estate Planning Lawyer to Create a Living Will

People don’t like to think about getting old, and they certainly don’t like thinking about dying. However, accidents and other unexpected events can take the life of you or a loved one. Most states have a set of laws that determines who will make the decision with regard to your treatment or care when you become incapacitated or are unable to decide on your own. Without a living will, this individual will make the decision on the type of care that you’ll receive. And it won’t matter if you would have made that choice if you had been able to.

If you hire a Chicago estate planning lawyer to draft a living will, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that your wishes will be met. And it will give your family the assurance that they will only have to worry about following what you have specified. You can make requests with regard to emergency or end-of-life medical care, which can be helpful if you’re not able to communicate them to the people who will be administering it.

What Should Go into a Living Will from an Estate Planning Lawyer Chicago

You don’t have to hire a Chicago estate attorney to put together a living will, but doing so will make sure that your wishes are being specified and that it will comply with state laws. A living will can be drafted by any adult person, and he or she doesn’t have to have the legal knowledge or expertise to do it. However, an estate planning attorney Chicago will be your best option if you want to make sure that it’s carried out.

A living will can contain as much or as little as you want, but you should give serious thought to the following areas:

  • Life-Prolonging Care–The people who make these decisions may have different feelings than you when it comes to keeping you alive, and it can include any life-prolonging procedure (such as blood transfusions, dialysis, ventilators, or emergency surgeries).
  • Artificial Nutrition and Hydration–Artificial feeding tubes and IV’s can keep your body alive for an extended period of time even after brain death. But if you prefer to go naturally, it should be specified in a living will.
  • Palliative Care–Even if no one wants to die, they at least want to be comfortable when the time comes. This involves the use of drugs or any other substances to make sure you pass away peacefully.

If you’re thinking about putting together a living will, you’ll want to consult a Chicago estate planning attorney so you can make sure that it’s in accordance with State Law.

 

What You Should Do After Having a Living Will from a Chicago Estate Attorney

After you have completed your living will from an estate planning lawyer Chicago, you want to make sure that a copy of it is always available. If you have any other estate planning documents (like a last will and testament), you want to give a copy to the people who have been named in them because it will make sure that your health care wishes are being met. You also want to make sure that a copy of your living will is on file at the office of your primary care physician. And if you frequently visit certain hospitals, you want to make sure they have it on file as well.

You might want to give a copy to your health insurance provider, and you should make sure that it’s filed at a living will registry at the local, state, or federal level. You should also have the contact information of the Chicago estate planning lawyer that you used to draft the will. This person will most likely have a copy of the will in his or her office, and it can come in handy if you need to access the document at a later date.

The Best Estate Planning Lawyer Chicago for Drafting a Living Will

No one wants to think about dying, and the same is true when it comes to being the victim of an unforeseen set of circumstances. If you’re in a situation where you’re unable to communicate your wishes, you may be left at the mercy of whoever the State considers to be able to make the final decision. A living will can give you the assurance that your medical wishes will be carried out, and hiring an estate planning lawyer Chicago will be your best option if you want to make sure that it conforms with State Law.

While you can create a living will without an estate planning attorney Chicago, getting someone from Chicago Real Estate Law Firm will give you the best chance of making sure that everyone is clear about what you want. We have an expert team that can help you with all your estate planning needs, which will include the drafting of a living will.
Not only can we make sure that the value of your estate will be distributed according to your specifications, but we can also make sure that you get a living will that will outline your wishes if you’re left in a position where you’re unable to communicate them on your own.
If you want more information on how we can help you plan your estate, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to speak with you about your needs!

 
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