In Nevada, a living will is an estate planning tool that contains specific details about a person’s medical treatment preferences and end-of-life care directives. While this document also carries a “will” on its title, its legal purpose is entirely different from a “final will and testament.”
To help provide better insight into this topic, here are two key factors about a Nevada living will that you should know about:
Living will: Purpose and benefits
When you create a living will, you help prepare yourself and your loved ones for your future incapacity. When you are under this physical and/or mental state, it means you are no longer able to speak for yourself and make your own healthcare decisions.
Your legal document can outline your end-of-life care instructions about pain management, tube feeding routines and organ donation. It can also address your personal wishes about cardiac resuscitation and the use of artificial life support systems.
With this in place, your doctors and nurses can honor your directives and ensure that your medical decisions and core values are respected.
Living will: Legal requirements
In Nevada, you must be at least 18 years old to create a living will. You also need to showcase that you fully understand the implications of the legal document that you are creating.
After you finish drafting your living will, you must sign it in the presence of two non-blood, adult witnesses or in front of a notary public.
Keep in mind that your document only turns into effect when you become diagnosed with a terminal condition or fall into a persistent vegetative state with no chance of recovery.
Your end-of-life care decisions should be yours to make
By understanding Nevada’s legal requirements, you can prepare your living will and safeguard your medical directives for the future. This act not only helps reduce emotional challenges for your loved ones but also empowers you to stay in full control of your own decisions.