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April 5, 2008, 8:44 am
Flag as Inappropriate Kathy22  

I would like to have a living will in place, just in case something should ever happen to me. The whole family got together recently and somehow this topic came up. The arguing and debate that went on for the next 2 hours tells me that I don't want the decisions left up to anyone else but me. Does anyone know if you can do a legally binding living will without having a lawyer? I plan on giving copies to my doctor, my parents and leaving one in the house with important papers to ensure that my wishes are found and followed.

Honestly, I don't know how to go about making a will.

My father got into a terrible motorcycle accident when I was 2 and left him paralyzed until I was 10. Sadly, he did not have a will. They could not 'pull the plug' on him (which is what he had told my mom he would want if anything like this had ever happened to him). So he had to live the life of a carrot for 8 years straight.

I hated to see my daddy like this when I was little. It broke my heart :(

Now, I'm not anywhere close to the age of dying of age, but I would also want to make a will just in case anything ever happened to me too!

I would not want to live like my father did, that is horrible! Who wants to live like that? It's depressing to even watch someone you love live and look like that for 8 years.

Sorry I can't answer your question Kathy22, but I just thought I'd share my story. Maybe someone can answer our questions. =/ I don't have a lawyer either.

I took a quick look on google and there are a lot of ways to make your own living will. Some from books that have the forms in it, to computer programs that are part of business programs and there's even an online place to go to make your own living will.

You can also have someone designated to be your voice if you can't speak for yourself. The forms for that is online too. Just make certain your doctor knows what you want.

If I create a do-it-yourself will from a downloaded kit rather than through a lawyer, is it still legally enforceably in court if family members contest it?