Estate Planning

Estate Planning and Wills

When you are not able to otherwise express yourself, you can convey your wishes to your family and loved ones through a living will as part of an estate plan.  This is different from a trust, which grants assets to loved ones. Estate planning lawyers can explain to you that agents only use living wills in specific situations.  Your loved ones will use your living will if illness or an accident incapacitates you and they have to make decisions about your healthcare. A living will has the same meaning as an advanced health care directive.

Mississippi law defines the situations in which a living will becomes effective as follows:

• When a person is permanently unconscious
• When a person is in a coma
• When a person cannot communicate healthcare decisions

You can also specify what medical treatments you desire to be take on your behalf, and whether or not you want your agent or representative to take life-saving measures.  However, you must use very specific instruction to create a living will in Mississippi.

Important facts about your living will in Mississippi

You need to discuss your living will with your loved ones and make sure they are aware of your decisions in the case of an emergency.  Your living will can only be effective if your family is aware of its existence.

Another circumstance your living will must address is whether you wish your loved ones to resuscitate you.  Resuscitation measures often include intubation, and a do not resuscitate clause (D.N.R.) in your living will indicates you do not wish to endure such life-saving procedures.

Your living will does not affect your health or life insurance policies.  The law does not recognize a D.N.R. as suicide or assisted suicide.

Whenever you experience a life-changing event, or have a change of opinion, you can update or cancel your living will.

The estate planning attorneys at Glover Russell, P.A., explain the benefits of having a living will and situations where you may want to update your estate planning documents.  Discuss your living will with the estate planning attorneys of Glover Russell, P.A.

When you need a living will in Jackson, please call our office at 888-457-4379 or contact us online so we may assist you.