Make your Free
Rhode Island Advance Directive

A Rhode Island Advance Directive is a legal document that lays out your preferences related to health care, such as your refusal or acceptance of certain medical treatments or procedures, and/or your selection of a trusted healthcare decision maker.

The individual making an Advance Directive is called the "principal," and the people or organizations receiving authority to carry out the principal's wishes are known as "agents." Suitable for residents of Rhode Island, this free Advance Directive is made for use in Kent County, Washington County, Providence County, and in all other counties across the state. Any Rhode Island Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be edited to address your specific scenario. With this essential document on hand, your healthcare providers will have a point of reference for your preferences, and your representative(s) can offer confirmation that they have been given the authority to act in your interest when you are not able.

It's fast and simple to outline your medical wishes with a free Rhode Island Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make the document - Provide a few details, and we will do the rest
2. Send or share - Look over it with your healthcare agent(s) or ask a legal question
3. Sign it and make it legal - Required or not, witnesses and notarization are a best practice

This route is often notably less time-consuming than hiring and working with the average law firm. If needed, you can fill out an Advance Directive on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then have that person sign it once you've drafted it. Please note that for this document to be valid, the principal must be mentally competent when they sign. If the principal is already unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship could be required. When facing such a scenario, it is best for you to talk to an attorney.

Every person over 18 should have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Living Will and a Healthcare Power of Attorney). Even though it's unpleasant to acknowledge, there could come a day when you cannot make important decisions on your own. Typical circumstances in which it would be helpful to make or update your Advance Directive include:

• You plan to undergo a medical procedure requiring anesthesia
• You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issues
• You have been diagnosed with a terminal illness
• You intend to move into an adult care facility

Whether your Rhode Island Advance Directive is being generated as part of a forward-looking plan or produced as a result of a recent change in your health, notarization and/or witnesses often help to protect your agent if their privileges and authority are challenged by a third party. Please note that in Rhode Island, Advance Directives in the form of a Living Will are not valid if the principal is pregnant and the fetus could develop for a live birth.

Making an Advance Directive is generally simple, but you might need advice. Finding someone to check your document may take a long time if you attempt to do it alone. An alternate approach to consider is to get help via Rocket Lawyer attorney services. Rocket Lawyer members are able to ask for feedback from an experienced lawyer or ask additional legal questions. As always, you can live confidently with Rocket Lawyer by your side.

The cost of meeting and hiring a lawyer to make an Advance Directive might add up to anywhere between two hundred and one thousand dollars. Different from many other sites you may come across, Rocket Lawyer offers much more than an Advance Directive template. If you ever require assistance from a lawyer, your membership offers up to a 40% discount when you hire an On Call attorney.

With a Premium membership, you can edit it, download it as a PDF document or Word file, or print it. To make your Rhode Island Medical Directive legally binding, you must sign it. You will need to provide a copy of your fully signed document to your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties.

The specifications and restrictions for Advance Directives will vary in each state; however, in Rhode Island, your Advance Directive usually needs to be signed by two witnesses. If you are only making a Healthcare Power of Attorney and not a Living Will as part of your Advance Directive, then you may have it notarized instead of finding two witnesses. Witnesses shouldn't include your healthcare provider or their employee, nor should they be the owners, operators, or employees of your community care facility. Only one of the witnesses may be legally related to you (such as a spouse, adopted child, or family member) or any other heir/beneficiary. As a general principle, witnesses must not be under 18 years old, and none should also be designated as your healthcare agent.

See legal references for an Advance Directive in Rhode Island: § 23-4.11-3