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New Jersey Advance Directive

A New Jersey Advance Directive is a legal document that lays out your preferences in relation to medical care, such as your refusal of or request for a specific medical treatment, and/or the selection of a trusted agent or decision maker.

The individual making an Advance Directive is known as the "principal," while the individual or organization receiving permission to carry out the principal's wishes is known as the "agent." Designed for residents of New Jersey, this free Advance Directive is made for use in Middlesex County, Essex County, Bergen County, and in all other parts of the state. Any New Jersey Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be fully customized for your specific scenario. As a result of having this official legal document, your healthcare institutions will have a record of your preferences, and your agent(s) can offer proof that they have been given the authority to act in your interest when you are not able.

It's fast and simple to document your medical preferences with a free New Jersey Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your Advance Directive - Provide a few basic details, and we will do the rest
2. Send or share - Review it with your healthcare agent(s) or seek legal advice
3. Sign it - Mandatory or not, witnesses and notarization are recommended

This method is often notably less expensive than working with the average provider. If necessary, you can fill out this Advance Directive on behalf of your spouse, an elderly parent, or another relative, and then have that person sign when ready. Please note that for this document to be considered valid, the principal must be a mentally competent adult when they sign. In the event that the principal has already been declared legally incompetent, a conservatorship generally will be required. In such a situation, it would be best to speak to a lawyer.

If you are over 18 years old, you should have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Living Will and a Healthcare Power of Attorney). Even though it can be difficult to acknowledge, there might come a day when you are not able to make important decisions on your own. Here are some typical circumstances in which you might consider it useful to make or update your Advance Directive:

• You are planning for an upcoming medical procedure or hospitalization
• You are getting older or dealing with ongoing health issues
• You have been given a terminal diagnosis
• You are preparing to live in a care facility

Whether this New Jersey Advance Directive is being produced as a result of a change in your health or as part of a forward-looking plan, notarization and/or witnesses are strongly encouraged as a best practice for protecting this document and your agent if someone questions their authority.

Making an Advance Directive is typically straightforward, but you or your agent may still have legal questions. Finding a legal professional to proofread your New Jersey Advance Directive could be time-consuming and relatively expensive. An easier and more cost-effective route is to go through the On Call network of attorneys. With a Premium membership, you can have your document evaluated by an On Call attorney with relevant experience. As always, you can rest assured that Rocket Lawyer is here to support you.

The fees associated with hiring an attorney to make an Advance Directive could add up to anywhere from two hundred to one thousand dollars. When using Rocket Lawyer, you are not just filling out an Advance Directive template. If you ever need support from a lawyer, your Rocket Lawyer membership offers up to a 40% discount when you hire an attorney from our On Call network.

Attached alongside each Advance Directive, there's a set of helpful tips to follow while finalizing the document. With a membership, you can make edits, download, or sign it. Finally, your agent(s) and care providers should receive copies of your final document.

The specific requirements and restrictions for Advance Directives vary by state; however, in New Jersey, your document must be signed by a notary public or two witnesses. As a basic standard, witnesses will need to be at least 18 years old, and none should simultaneously be named as your agent.

See legal references for an Advance Directive in New Jersey: Chapter 26:2H-56