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New Jersey Living Will

A New Jersey Living Will is a legal document that lays out your wishes with regard to healthcare, such as your acceptance or refusal of a medical treatment, in addition to the optional selection of a trusted decision maker or "agent."

The individual making a Living Will is known as the "principal," while the individual or organization gaining authority to carry out the principal's wishes is known as the "agent." Designed for residents of New Jersey, this Living Will can be used in Essex County, Bergen County, Middlesex County, and in all other parts of the state. Any New Jersey Living Will form from Rocket Lawyer can be personalized to address your unique circumstances. As a result of this legal document, your medical facilities will have a record of your decisions, and your representative(s) will be able to offer confirmation that they have been given the authority to make choices for you when you are not able.

It's simple and easy to outline your medical preferences with a free New Jersey Living Will template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your Living Will - Answer a few basic questions, and we will do the rest
2. Send or share - Review it with your healthcare agent or seek legal advice
3. Sign it - Required or not, witnesses and notarization are ideal

This route is often much less expensive than hiring a traditional law firm. If needed, you may fill out a Living Will on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another relative, and then help that person sign it after you've drafted it. Keep in mind that for a Living Will to be valid, the principal must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. If the principal is already unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship might be required. In this scenario, it's a good idea to speak with an attorney.

Anyone who is over 18 should have a Living Will. Though it's painful to acknowledge, a day could come when you cannot make medical decisions on your own. Here are some typical circumstances in which you may find it helpful to make or update your Living Will:

• You are currently managing a terminal condition
• You are facing the possibility of surgery or period of hospitalization
• You are planning to live in a community care facility
• You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issue

Whether your New Jersey Living Will has been made as a result of a recent change in your health or as part of a long-term plan, notarization and/or witnesses often help to protect your agent if their power and authority are doubted.

Making a Living Will is usually simple; however, you or your agent might still need legal advice. Finding an attorney to comment on your New Jersey Living Will might be fairly time-consuming. An easier route would be via attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. With a Premium membership, you can get your document looked at by an experienced attorney. As always, Rocket Lawyer is here for you.

The fees associated with hiring and working with a law firm to write a Living Will could add up to between $200 and $1,000, depending on where you are located. When using Rocket Lawyer, you aren't just filling out a Living Will 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 network.

With a Premium membership, you will be able to make edits, save it as a Word or PDF document, and/or print it out. In order to complete your New Jersey Living Will form, it should be signed. You should give a final copy of your signed document to your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties.

The specific rules and restrictions governing Living Wills are different by state; however, in New Jersey, your Living Will needs the signatures of two witnesses or a notary public. As a general rule, witnesses must be 18 years old or older, and no witness should also be named as your healthcare agent.

See legal references for a Living Will in New Jersey: Chapter 26:2H-56