Do Not Use a Living Will!

A Living Will is a legal document which allows you to define the type of care you want at the end of your life or when you cannot make decisions about your health care.

The problem is that the Living Will forms which you are given for a Living Will frequently give the discretion for your care to your doctors. It takes away your power to dictate how you want to be treated.

The better solution is to use the Illinois Health Care Power of Attorney (HCPOA). This is a form approved for use to advise your family and treating physicians how you want to be treated when you cannot make those decisions. With the HCPOA the discretion is removed and gives specific directives to your family on how you want to be cared for or what end-of-life treatments or provisions should be made.

The Illinois approved form is available online. Please go to our webpage which explains the Illinois HCPOA and explains the Health Care Power of Attorney. Just click here for more information about the Illinois Health Care Power of Attorney.

The firm of Bellas & Wachowski Attorneys at Law can help you make the necessary estate planning decisions in a cost-effective manner. Contact Attorney Tracy Ries at tracy@bellas-wachowski.com 847.823.9030 x221 for more information.