New Jersey Living Wills Lawyer

Living Wills

Our New Jersey Estate Planning Attorneys Help Clients Set Up Living Wills  

At Scott Counsel, P.C., our New Jersey living wills lawyers provide personalized estate planning guidance and support to our clients. We want to make sure that you have a comprehensive plan in place that empowers you to make your own decisions—including regarding health care and end of life care. If you have any questions about living wills, our team is here as a resource. To arrange your completely confidential consultation with a New Jersey living will attorney, please contact us today.

Living Wills: Explained

Everyone has heard of wills, and everyone knows the basics of what a will does. That is more or less common knowledge. The average person at least understands the most basic function of a will—to make your wishes known after you pass away. There are also living wills, however, and those may be a bit more mysterious and confusing to you. Though, as with everything else relating to elder care, we want to take the mysticism out of living wills and lessen confusion for you. To get you started with the estate planning process, here is how a living will is defined in New Jersey.  

• Living Will: Also known as an advance health care directive or a medical directive, a living will is an estate planning document through which a person can express their wishes regarding medical care. In the event of incapacity, doctors and family can refer to a person’s living will to determine what type of care is appropriate. 

Maybe you’ve always had questions on this (or any number of other things related to elder law or care, for that matter), and that’s good. You can find the answers to these questions on the site or by speaking with one of the knowledgeable staff members. For right now, though, the aim of this page is to help you better understand living wills and what you can expect a living will to be able to do for you. With that knowledge, you will be able to determine whether or not a living will is even necessary in your specific situation.

A Living Will Empowers You to Control Your Health Care (No Matter What Tomorrow Brings)

If you have specific wishes regarding your medical care—particularly end-of-life care—it is imperative that you have a legally valid living will in place. Without a living will, there is no guarantee that your wishes will be respected. A living will empowers you to take control of your own medical decision making, even in situations where you are not able to express your wishes.

You Should Also Have a Health Care Power of Attorney (POA) in Place

A living will is an important estate planning document for those who have specific wishes regarding their medical care and end-of-life care. At the same time, it is simply not possible to anticipate all of your possible future health care needs ahead of time. For this reason, you should also have a health care power of attorney in place. You can give a trusted family member or friend the ability to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot express your own wishes. In New Jersey, a health care power of attorney does not override a living will. Instead, these estate planning documents work together. What you include in your living will is legally enforceable. 

An Estate Planning Lawyer Can Answer Questions About Living Wills

Living wills are complicated. It is normal to have a lot of questions about exactly how they work in New Jersey. Knowledge is power. At Scott Counsel, we know you have a lot on your plate, but we don’t want you to worry about any of it. You should know that when you come to us, our focus is on providing you with the vital information you need when you need it, so that your focus can be on providing the best possible care with the best possible outcome for your family and the elderly in your life. Some of the questions you might have regarding living wills might potentially include the following:

• What is the difference between a will and a living will?
• Do I need both?
• Am I able to leave property loved ones with a living will?
• Can I name an executor for my estate or a guardian for my children with a living will?
• What kind of information can I put in living will?
• Is a living will and healthcare power of attorney the same thing?
• How are living wills, healthcare power of attorneys, and advanced directives related?
• Do I need a lawyer to be able to create a living will?

When you choose us, you can rest assured that you will get the information you need in a way you can understand it. Our goal is to help you, not overwhelm you even more. You can also have the confidence that you have a team in your corner full of the best, hardest working people. At Scott Counsel, our mission is to not rest so you can. Let us take care of the big things, so you can focus on the more important things—being there for your family and loved ones, and, most importantly, supporting each other through one of the most difficult and most trying times a family can face together.

Contact Our New Jersey Living Wills Attorney for Immediate Help

At Scott Counsel, P.C., our New Jersey living will attorneys provide solutions-oriented legal guidance and support to people and families. If you have any questions about living wills, we can help. Call us at (856) 281-3131 or contact us online to schedule a completely confidential consultation. From our law office locations in Cherry Hills, Hammonton, Mullica Hills, Moorestown, and Princeton, we assist clients with living wills and other estate planning matters throughout all of New Jersey.