Document end-of-life preferences in Iowa: Iowa Living Will
What is an Iowa Living Will?
The individual making a Living Will is called the "principal," while the person or organization receiving permission to carry out the principal's wishes is called the "agent." Suited for residents of Iowa, this free Living Will is made for use in Scott County, Polk County, Linn County, and in every other part of the state. Any Iowa Living Will form from Rocket Lawyer can be personalized for your specific circumstances. With this official document on hand, your medical facilities will have a point of reference for your preferences, and your representative can offer confirmation that they have been given the authority to act in your interest.
When to use an Iowa Living Will:
- You'd like to make sure your loved ones and doctors know what treatments you do and don't want.
- You're beginning to put together a comprehensive estate plan that includes information on your end-of-life medical care.
Iowa Living Will FAQs
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How do I write a Living Will in Iowa?
It's fast and easy to record your medical wishes using a free Iowa Living Will template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make the document - Answer a few questions, and we will do the rest
- Send or share - Look over your wishes with your healthcare agent(s) or get legal advice
- Sign and make it legal - Mandatory or not, notarization and witnesses are recommended
This solution will often be much more affordable and convenient than working with your average provider. If necessary, you may fill out a Living Will on behalf of your spouse or another relative, and then help that person sign when ready. Please note that for a Living Will to be considered valid, the principal must be mentally competent when they sign. In the event that the principal has already been declared incompetent, a conservatorship could be necessary. When managing this situation, it would be best for you to talk to a lawyer .
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Who should make a Living Will?
Every person over 18 ought to have a Living Will in place. While it can be painful to acknowledge, there will likely come a time when you are not able to make important decisions on your own. Common occasions in which it would be helpful to make or update your Living Will include:
- You've been diagnosed with a terminal condition
- You are planning for an upcoming surgery or hospitalization
- You live in or are preparing to move into a community care facility
- You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issue
Regardless of whether your Iowa Living Will has been prepared as part of a long-term plan or created as a result of a recent change in your health, notarization and/or witnesses are highly encouraged for protecting your document if its credibility is questioned. In Iowa, a Living Will is not considered valid if the principal is pregnant.
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Should I work with an attorney for my Living Will in Iowa?
Making a Living Will is normally easy to do, but you or your agent may have legal questions. Finding a legal professional to review your Iowa Living Will can be relatively time-intensive. A more cost-effective route would be to request help from attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. By becoming a Premium member, you can have your documents examined by an experienced attorney. You can rest assured that Rocket Lawyer is here to help.
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How much might I typically need to pay for a lawyer to help me make a Living Will in Iowa?
The fees associated with meeting and hiring a conventional attorney to make a Living Will can total anywhere between two hundred and one thousand dollars. Rocket Lawyer is not your average Living Will template provider. With us, anyone under a Rocket Lawyer Premium membership can take advantage of up to a 40% discount when hiring an Rocket Lawyer network attorney.
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Will there be any next steps that I should take once I have drafted an Iowa Living Will?
Each Iowa Living Will form has its own set of instructions for what to do next. As a Rocket Lawyer member, you may edit it, download it in PDF format or as a Word document, print it out, and sign it. Finally, you should give a final copy of your signed document to your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties.
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Does a Living Will need to be notarized or witnessed in Iowa?
The specific requirements for Living Wills will vary in each state; however, in Iowa, your document requires notarization or the signatures of two witnesses. The witnesses to your Living Will form shouldn't be your healthcare provider or their employees. Only one of the witnesses may be a relative (including your spouse or any adopted children.) As a general standard, witnesses must not be under the age of 18, and no witness should also be named as your healthcare agent.
