When it comes to estate planning in Ohio, it can often seem as though a lot of planning is necessary to take care of potential estate issues well prior to your death. For instance, many modern estate plans include the idea of a living trust. Hand-in-hand with this is the concept of a living will. However, there are many things to consider prior to creating a living will, including evaluating is it is necessary for your particular situation or not. According to US World News & World Report, a living will can direct your loved ones on what sorts of decisions to make regarding your health if you are incapacitated and not able to make medical decisions for yourself.
Whether or not you need a living will is a very personal decision. Essentially, you need to evaluate your feelings on being physically and mentally incapacitated and having others make decisions about your health without you. Most commonly living wills will come into effect after a debilitating stroke, potential car accident, or if a loved one succumbs to dementia. If you have extremely strong feelings about life support either way, for example, creating a living will can help ensure that your wishes are carried out.
Additionally, many people find that creating a living will helps take the burden off family members in the event of a degenerative disease or terrible accident. It is likely that if you are otherwise incapacitated your loved ones are going through a difficult time as it is without having to make literal life-or-death decisions at the same time. For many, having a living will is a way to protect their families and ensure that pertinent medical decisions are made in a timely fashion.
