Wills and other End-of-Life Planning Documents
According to Caring.com’s 2024 Wills Survey, only 32% of U.S. adults have a will and many believe they don’t have enough assets to need a will. Not true. Furthermore, 40% of those without a will would only be motivated to create a will by a health scare. Please, don’t let that be your motivating factor! The best time to plan is when there is not a crisis.
We know that planning ahead helps minimize chaos for your loved ones. Dying without a will creates an unnecessary burden for those you leave behind. Below are some resources to help you understand the will-making process and get you started. It also outlines other end-of-life documents you should have in place.
Please note, a will may be either be witnessed by two competent adults who will not benefit from your decisions or you may use an attorney to create your will.
A Will is Basic Component of an Estate Plan
An estate plan includes a will in addition to other documents protecting your family and property as well as documents specifying your health care wishes while you are alive but incapacitated. An estate plan guides your loved ones in handling your financial affairs and medical care. It includes:
- A will covers what will happen to your family and property after you die.
- Ohio Bar-Law Facts: Wills
- Death with Dignity National Center-Life File: Will and Estate Planning
- Free Will-Ohio will: Last will and testament requirements
- An Ohio Advance Directive (for end-of-life healthcare decisions) which goes into effect if you are terminally ill AND unable to make decisions OR if you are in a permanently unconscious state. Ohio’s Advance Directive Packet includes:
- A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care/Health Care Proxy-appointing a person to make decisions for you.
- A Living Will-which addresses withholding and withdrawing life prolonging interventions and other concerns:
- Artificial nutrition/hydration
- CPR
- Mechanical ventilation
- Dialysis
- Antibiotic/Antiviral medication
- Comfort Care
- Organ & Tissue donation
- Body donation
- Can emergency personnel follow these? – NO, Not portable; not a medical order
- Portable Medical Orders are documented in an Ohio DNR-CC Form.
- Portable Medical Orders are documented in an Ohio DNR-CC Form.
- A Dementia/Alzheimer’s Directive-may be included for those wanting to direct their care following such a diagnosis (not legally binding in Ohio).
- A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care/Health Care Proxy-appointing a person to make decisions for you.
- Financial Planning Documents like Trusts, if you have them.
Thank you for planning ahead and helping to alleviate chaos for your loved ones.
The information provided is not intended as legal or medical advice.