how do i make a living will?

Question

I know this question has been asked before, but i am confused about the funeral arrangement. Is this part of a living will? As i understand a living will gives directives on what i want to do if i am in a need of medical care such as no resusitate or no tubes and so on. But does it apply to funeral arrangement like who i want to have to do it or where i want and so on. I want to have a living will made but uncertaint as what it covers. thanks.

Answer 1

A living will is an advance health care directive. In general, it appoints a surrogate to act in your behalf if you are unable to make important medical decisions for yourself. The Pennsylvania Medical Society has a nice model form: http://www.pamedsoc.org/PrinterTemplate.cfm?Section=Tips,_Tools_and_Takeaways&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8939

Here is an example of the "statutory form" under Pennsylvania law: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CTS/20/00.054.071.000..HTM

If you want to make funeral arrangements, it is best to speak with a funeral director. Many people often enter into pre-paid ffuneral arrangements with funeral directors to spare family members the difficult decisions involved in making funeral arrangements. If you will be entering a nursing home soon, it is recommended that you do this. Prepaid funeral arrangements are not considered as assets for purposes of Medicaid planning. Many elder law attorneys recommend prepaying funerals.

Answer 2

A living will concerns medical efforts to keep you alive. After death arrangements would need to be addressed in a standard will. If they are not, your next of kin would make the decisions. Prearranging your funeral will normally be accepted, but I can't say such arrangements have to be followed.

Answer 3

I found a couple of pages that covers what a living will entails. As I recall, when my parents were still alive and caretakers of a funeral home, they would go over plans with people who would come in and plan out their funerals, what casket they wished, even down to what mattress they desired inside their casket (yes..they have differing qualities of mattresses inside caskets). And take care of all the details before hand, and have it all written down, and have it all worked out, and left with the executor of the will, or whoever would be in charge of arranging for the deceased to be taken to the funeral home. They seemed to think this made it run alot smoother, and they did this for themselves in case they died while they lived in NY state at the funeral home caretaking. It worked out great in my mother's case, there was no troubles.

With a living will, here are links >>

"what is a living will >> http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/living_will.htm

"Which is better: a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care?"
http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/will_or_attorney.htm

"What happens if there is no living will or durable power of attorney?"
http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/theres_no_will.htm

"I don’t want to be kept alive if I am in a ‘vegetative’ condition or with irreversible brain damage. Can I use a living will to state my desires?"
http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/dont_want_vegetative_condition.htm

"Is a living will different from a ‘living trust’?"
http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/different_living_trust.htm

"If I have a living will, would I also need a real ‘will’ or a ‘living trust’?""
http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/will_or_living_trust.htm

"Will paramedics follow my living will if they are called to my home?"
http://law.freeadvice.com/estate_planning/wills/paramedics_living_will.htm

And on the local radio station, I hear commercials all the time (am 700 Houston) for legalzoom for do it yourself legal paperwork, and I went to the am 700 ksev radio website, and went to advertisers, lance roberts is the guy that talks about them, and this is the link off there >> http://www.legalzoom.com/index3.html?CMP=BAC-lanceroberts&WT.mc_id=llanceroberts I think if you type when you check out you put in lanceroberts all one word, you get.. 10%? 20% off? its one of the two. It's been since last school season I listened, since last May. Anyhoo,. Hope this helps you. And check around also. There are companies now that sell discount funeral supplies. Here in Houston we have The Pine Box, which sells caskets and other funeral necessities at lower prices than funeral homes. http://www.thepinebox.com/ I dont know where you are, but they may know if you contact them, of discounters in your area, it could help save some money at a time when some is needed.

Answer 4

A living will has no direction regarding your funeral arrangements.

Here's a sample:
http://estate.findlaw.com/estate-planning/living-wills/le23_9_1.html

Answer 5

A funeral director of your choice or clergy of your religion will be of great service to your question's.