Document end-of-life preferences in Alabama: Alabama Living Will
What is an Alabama Living Will?
An Alabama Living Will is a legal document that outlines your wishes regarding health care, such as your refusal of or request for a certain medical treatment, along with the optional naming of a chosen healthcare decision maker.
The person making a Living Will is called the "principal," and the people or entities obtaining permission to carry out the principal's wishes are called "agents." Designed for residents of Alabama, this free Living Will is made for use in Madison County, Jefferson County, Mobile County, and in every other county or municipality throughout the state. Each Alabama Living Will form from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized to address your particular circumstances. As a result of this document, your medical providers will have a point of reference for your decisions, and your representative will be able to offer verification that they have been given the authority to make choices for you.
When to use an Alabama Living Will:
- You want to clearly define your wishes for end of life care.
- You're creating a complete estate plan, and want to make sure everything's covered.
How do I get my Alabama Living Will reviewed?
If you already have an Alabama Living Will and want to have it reviewed, or if you have questions about creating or using one, there are a few ways to get help.
Use Rocket Copilot to ask questions or review your document; this helps you better understand what it says and identify anything that may need a closer look.
If you are looking for help from a Legal Pro, you can also ask a question and receive a response within one business day, or request a more in-depth document review.
Sample Alabama Living Will
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ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR HEALTH CARE
I understand the following:
If my doctor or hospital does not want to follow the directions I have listed, they must see that I get to a doctor or hospital who will follow my directions.
If I am pregnant, or if I become pregnant, the choices I have made on this form will not be followed until after the birth of the baby.
If the time comes for me to stop receiving life sustaining treatment or food and water through a tube or an IV, I direct that my doctor talk about the good and bad points of doing this, along with my wishes, with my health care proxy, if I have one, and with the following people:
Should any specific directions be held to be invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other directions of the advance directive for health care which can be given effect without the invalid direction, and to this end the directions in the advance directive for health care are severable.
G. E. D.
| Your name: |
| Address: |
The month, day, and year of your birth:
Your signature: ____________________________________
Date signed: ______________________
I am witnessing this form because I believe this person to be of sound mind. I did not sign the person's signature, and I am not the health care proxy. I am not related to the person by blood, adoption, or marriage and not entitled to any part of his or her estate. I am at least 19 years of age and am not directly responsible for paying for his or her medical care.
| Signature: | ________________________________________ |
| Date: | ________________________ |
| Signature: | ________________________________________ |
| Date: | ________________________ |
| _____ | Your Proxy, , and Alternate Proxy, , must sign this form. |
| _____ | (your Proxy) |
Alabama Living Will FAQs
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How do I write a Living Will in Alabama?
It is fast and easy to record your medical wishes using a free Alabama Living Will template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Living Will - Answer a few questions, and we will do the rest
- Send and share it - Go over it with your healthcare agent or get legal help
- Sign it and make it legal - Mandatory or not, notarization/witnesses are ideal
This solution will often be much more affordable and convenient than finding and working with a traditional attorney. If necessary, you may fill out this Living Will on behalf of your spouse or another family member, and then help them sign it after you've drafted it. Please remember that for a Living Will to be considered legally valid, the principal must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. If the principal has already been declared legally incompetent, a court-appointed conservatorship may be necessary. In this scenario, it's a good idea for you to speak with an Legal Pro.
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Do I need to write a Living Will?
Every person over 18 ought to have a Living Will in place. Though it's unpleasant to think about, a time might come when you aren't able to make your own healthcare decisions. Common circumstances where you might find it useful to make or update your Living Will include:
- You reside in or have plans to move into an adult care facility
- You are currently managing a terminal condition
- You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issue
- You will be in the hospital for surgery
Regardless of whether this Alabama Living Will has been created in response to a change in your health or as part of a forward-looking plan, witnesses and notarization can help to protect your agent if someone challenges their authority. In Alabama, this document is not valid if the principal is pregnant.
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Do I need an attorney to review my Living Will in Alabama?
It’s a good idea to have important documents like your Alabama Living Will reviewed before signing, so you fully understand your choices and help avoid unintended outcomes. The problem is that some attorneys may not review documents they didn’t prepare, while others may require a retainer or high hourly fees. This can make getting a legal review of your Alabama Living Willdifficult and time-consuming.
Rocket Lawyer makes the process easier. With Rocket Lawyer, you can request a review from a Legal Pro or ask questions about your document. You can also use Rocket Copilot to review your document, identify potential issues, and check that everything is complete before signing.
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How much would I normally pay for an attorney to help me make a Living Will in Alabama?
Attorney fees for drafting or reviewing an Alabama Living Will can vary widely. Many lawyers charge hourly rates that may range from around $100 for less experienced attorneys to $350 or more per hour for highly experienced attorneys in major metropolitan areas. For more routine documents, some attorneys may offer flat-fee pricing.
The total cost will depend on several factors, including your location, the attorney’s experience, and the complexity of your agreement. More documents or situations involving negotiation will typically require more time and increase the overall cost.
With Rocket Lawyer, you can create a personalized Alabama Living Will tailored to your specific needs—without the high cost typically associated with hiring a lawyer. If you have questions or want additional peace of mind, you can also get your document reviewed or ask a Legal Pro for guidance.
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Does a Living Will need to be notarized or witnessed in Alabama?
The laws are different in each state; however, in Alabama, your Living Will needs two witnesses. Witnesses cannot be anyone who is responsible for the cost of your medical care, nor should they be a spouse/relative, heir, or any other beneficiary. As a general standard, witnesses should be at least 19 years old, and no witness should also be designated as your agent.
