At what age do people usually make a living will?

How about a will contract?
Living will: Terr Shiavo case
Will contract: another name for the will that applies when someone passes away, which bequeaths material wealth to family members, etc.
That should be "Terri"

One Response to “At what age do people usually make a living will?”

  1. lorintx says:

    A living will is something you should seriously think about if you are over the age of 18. I think you can get the form on-line and complete it yourself. Also you can write your wishes (in duplicate or triplicate) have it witnessed and notarized and give copies to people you trust to carry out your wishes, and keep a copy for yourself. I can tell that most people that answered have no idea what a living will is. I believe you do since you mentioned the Terri Schavio case, if she would of had one then she could have been allowed to die peacfully once a Dr deterimed that she would never live without life support again. I believe a living will has 6 month stipulations, for example, if your condition was terminal and you would die within 6 months without life support would you want to be kept alive? etc. This only becomes applicable once you are not able to make decisions for yourself. Not sure that this applies to some comas because people do wake from those, even after years and years. But if they determined you had no brain activity or it was severly and irriversibley damaged like Terri’s, then it would apply.

    You would also want to complete a DNR, a do not recusitate, only if it is unfortunate enough that you are asking this because you have been diagnosed with a serious illness. I think this has the 6 month stipulation on it as well, and your attending physician would have to agree and sign it.

    As far as a ‘will of testament’ if you have children then you should absolutely have one. If you have items you want to give certain people than absolutely, even if those items are small, like a diary, or paintings that you did. If you have large sums of money or own a house or a car without a leinholder, then again yes. But say if you hardly own a thing, are 18, live in an apartment, and you want everything to go to your Mom, then not too necessary at this point in your life. If you have smallt hings, then you could write it out and have it notarized and witnessed and once again, given to trustworthy people.

    The difference between writting things out and witness and notarized and a document drwn up by an attorney, is that one stays amoungst friends and family, the other is sent to the courts and recorded.

    Hope all is well and you are just curious.

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