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Ohio Living Will

An Ohio Living Will is a legal document that sets forth your preferences in relation to medical care, such as your acceptance or refusal of a specific medical treatment or procedure, in addition to the optional selection of a trusted decision maker.

The person making a Living Will is called the "principal," while the person or entity receiving authority to carry out the principal's wishes is called the "agent." Suited for Ohio residents, this Living Will can be used in Summit County, Cuyahoga County, Hamilton County, and in all other regions throughout the state. Each Ohio Living Will form from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized to address your unique scenario. With this legal document on hand, your healthcare providers will have a record of your decisions, and your agent will be able to offer proof that they have been authorized to act in your interest.

It's fast and simple to document your medical preferences using a free Ohio Living Will template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make the document - Answer a few basic questions, and we will do the rest
2. Send and share it - Discuss your wishes with your healthcare agent(s) or ask a lawyer
3. Sign it - Mandatory or not, notarization/witnesses are recommended

This solution, in most cases, would end up being notably less time-consuming than hiring a traditional lawyer. If necessary, you can start this Living Will on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then help that person sign it after you've drafted it. Keep in mind 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 court-appointed conservatorship generally will be required. When facing such a situation, it's a good idea to speak to a lawyer.

Anyone who is over 18 years old should have a Living Will. Although it can be difficult to acknowledge, there might come a day when you are no longer able to make your own healthcare decisions. Here are a few common situations where it may be useful to make or update your Living Will:

• You plan to be hospitalized for a surgical procedure
• You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issues
• You have been given a terminal diagnosis
• You intend to live in a community care facility

Whether this Ohio Living Will has been produced in response to a recent change in your health or as part of a forward-looking plan, notarization and/or witnesses often help to protect your document if someone challenges its validity. In Ohio, a Living Will is not valid during the principal's pregnancy, unless that pregnancy will not develop to a live birth.

Making a Living Will is typically straightforward; however, you may have questions. Locating an attorney to review your Living Will can take longer than you expect on your own. An alternate approach worth consideration is to get help via Rocket Lawyer attorney services. Premium members can ask for a document review from an attorney with relevant experience or pose additional questions. As always, you can live confidently with Rocket Lawyer by your side.

The cost of hiring and working with your average attorney to write a Living Will could be anywhere from two hundred to one thousand dollars. When you use Rocket Lawyer, you are not just filling out a Living Will template. In case you ever require assistance 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 edit it, save it in Word or PDF format, and/or print it out. In order to finish up your Ohio Living Will form, it will need to be signed. Your agent(s) and care providers should get a copy of the final document.

The specific requirements will be different in each state; however, in Ohio, your Living Will needs to be signed by a notary public or two witnesses. Witnesses to this Living Will cannot be your attending physician or an administrator of the nursing home where you reside, nor your spouse, adoptee, or other relative. As a basic principle, witnesses must be over 18 years old, and none of them should simultaneously be designated as your healthcare agent.

See legal references for a Living Will in Ohio: § 2133.02