Document end-of-life preferences in Mississippi: Mississippi Living Will
What is a Mississippi Living Will?
The individual making a Living Will is known as the "principal," and the individuals or organizations receiving permission to carry out the principal's wishes are called "agents." Designed for residents of Mississippi, this free Living Will is made for use in DeSoto County, Hinds County, Harrison County, and in every other county or municipality in the state. Each Mississippi Living Will form from Rocket Lawyer can be tailored to address your unique situation. With this essential legal document on hand, your health care providers will have a point of reference for your preferences, and your representative will be able to offer verification that they have been authorized to act in your interest.
When to use a Mississippi Living Will:
- You're working alone or with a lawyer to draft a complete estate plan.
- You'd like to have your end-of-life medical care wishes legally written down to protect yourself and family.
Mississippi Living Will FAQs
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How do I write a Living Will in Mississippi?
It's fast and simple to set forth your medical preferences with a free Mississippi Living Will template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make the document - Answer a few basic questions, and we will do the rest
- Send or share it - Review it with your healthcare agent or seek legal help
- Sign it - Mandatory or not, witnesses and notarization are encouraged
This method is, in many cases, much more affordable and convenient than meeting and hiring a conventional attorney. If necessary, you may fill out a Living Will on behalf of a family member, and then help that person sign once you've drafted it. Please remember that for this document to be accepted as valid, the principal must be a mentally competent adult when they sign. If the principal is already incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship might be required. When facing such a scenario, it is a good idea for you to work with a lawyer .
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Why should I have a Living Will?
Every adult should have a Living Will. Even though it's tough to acknowledge, there might come a day when you aren't able to make your own medical decisions. Here are a few typical situations in which it would be helpful to make or update your Living Will:
- You expect to be hospitalized for surgery
- You are getting older or have declining health
- You've been given a terminal diagnosis
- You intend to live in a community care facility
Regardless of whether your Mississippi Living Will has been produced as a result of a recent change in your health or as part of a long-term plan, witnesses and/or notarization can often help to protect your agent if their privileges and authority are disputed by a third party.
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Do I need an attorney to review my Living Will in Mississippi?
Making a Living Will is typically easy to do; however, you may still have questions. Finding a legal professional to proofread your document may take a long time if you try to do it by yourself. Another approach to consider is to get help via the Rocket Lawyer On Call® attorney network. Rocket Lawyer Premium members are able to ask for a document review from an experienced attorney or ask other questions. As always, you can live confidently knowing that Rocket Lawyer is here by your side.
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What might it typically cost for an attorney to help me make a Living Will in Mississippi?
The cost of hiring a law firm to draft a Living Will might add up to between $200 and $1,000, depending on where you are. Rocket Lawyer is not your average Living Will template provider. With our service, anyone under a Rocket Lawyer Premium membership has access to up to 40% in savings when hiring an attorney.
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Will there be any additional actions that I will need to take after I make my Mississippi Living Will?
Alongside each Mississippi Living Will form, there's a series of directions that you will need in order to finalize your document. With a membership, you will be able to make edits, download it in PDF format or as a Word file, print it out, and/or sign it. Finally, you will need to provide a copy of the 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 Mississippi?
The laws are different in each state; however, in Mississippi, your Living Will requires notarization or the signatures of two witnesses. At least one of the witnesses to your Living Will form should not be a relative, spouse, adopted child, heir, or any other beneficiary. Your healthcare provider and employees of your healthcare facility are also restricted from being witnesses. As a general rule, your witnesses should not be under 18 years old, and no witness should also be designated as your agent.
