Document end-of-life preferences in Texas: Texas Living Will

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

1. Make the document - Provide a few general details, and we will do the rest
2. Send and share - Look over it with your healthcare agent(s) or get legal help
3. Sign it and make it legal - Required or not, witnesses and notarization are ideal

This solution, in many cases, would end up being notably less expensive and less time-consuming than finding and hiring a conventional law firm. If necessary, you may start this Living Will on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then help that person sign when ready. Please keep in mind that for a Living Will to be accepted as legally valid, the principal must be mentally competent at the time of signing. In the event that the principal is already incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship generally will be required. When dealing with this scenario, it is important to work with an attorney .

Anyone who is over 18 years old ought to have a Living Will. While it's challenging to think about, there might come a day when you can no longer make your own medical decisions. Typical occasions in which you might consider it helpful to make or update your Living Will include:

• You are aging or have declining health
• You intend to move into a care facility
• You are planning for an upcoming surgery or hospitalization
• You've been diagnosed with a terminal illness

Whether this Texas Living Will is being made as a result of a change in your health or as part of a forward-looking plan, notarization and witnesses can often help to protect your document if its authenticity is questioned. Please keep in mind that in Texas, your Living Will is not valid during pregnancy.

Making a Living Will is generally simple, but you may need advice. Locating a lawyer to review your Texas Living Will could be time-consuming and relatively costly. A more cost-effective option would be via attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. By signing up for a Premium membership, you can get your document reviewed or ask any questions. As always, Rocket Lawyer is here to help.

The cost of finding and working with a law firm to write a Living Will might range anywhere from two hundred to one thousand dollars, depending on where you are. Different from other Living Will template providers that you may discover, Rocket Lawyer gives members up to a 40% discount when hiring a lawyer, so an attorney can represent you if you ever require assistance.

When you're done completing a customized Living Will form using the Rocket Lawyer template, you'll be able to see it wherever and whenever you choose. With a Premium membership, you can make edits, save it as a PDF document or Word file, print it, or sign it. Each Texas Living Will form has its own series of tips for what's next after the document is finished. You should make sure to provide a final copy of the signed document to your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties.

The requirements and restrictions are different by state; however, in Texas, your document must be acknowledged by a notary public or signed by two witnesses. No more than one witness to your Living Will form can be your attending physician or any other healthcare facility employee who is providing direct care to you or is a business administrator of the facility or its parent organization. In addition, only one witness can be a relative (including your spouse, adoptees, or family members), heir, or beneficiary. As a basic standard, your witnesses should be 18 years old or older, and none should also be named as your healthcare agent.