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What is an Alabama Living Will?

An Alabama living will is also often referred to as an advance directive for health care. The purpose of an Alabama living will is to explain your decision on certain types of medical treatment and medical procedures in the event that you are unable to make that decision on your own, such as in the event you suffer from permanent unconsciousness.

It also allows you to appoint someone who can make decisions on your behalf. In the State of Alabama, the person you choose to make decisions on your behalf, known as a living will and health care proxy, cannot be under the age of 19. An Alabama living will should be signed in front of two witnesses. This legal document does not require a notary.

Alabama Living Will Laws

Section 22-8A-4: To create an Alabama living will, an individual must be considered a competent adult. It is important to note that the law states that life-sustaining treatment such as artificially provided nutrition and/or hydration will not be withdrawn or withheld unless it is specifically stated within the document. If the person is pregnant, the living will does not take effect until the birth of the baby according to state law.

Both the Alabama statute and the Alabama Hospital Association offer free advance directive forms for use to help you plan your final decisions related to medical decisions and to leave written instructions for proxy. It is important to make sure that your first witness and second witness sign the document in front of the notary.

The person's signature for the proxy is agreeing to serve as your proxy. Family members are often chosen as the health care proxy, but if there are bad points that make you think this isn't a good idea, you can appoint a trusted friend instead. There is also a space for the signature of the second choice for proxy. This can be useful in the event that your first choice cannot serve as your proxy for some reason. Your first choice proxy and your second choice proxy should include their full address as well as their day-time phone number. You should also include your relationship with them.

An Alabama living will is just one piece of a well-planned estate plan. An Alabama Last Will and Testament is another important document to use in addition to a living will. It directs how assets should be distributed after you die. Other important estate documents include a durable power of attorney or another power of attorney that better suits your specific needs.

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Alabama Living Will

Alabama Power of Attorney

Alabama Last Will and Testament

Alabama Medical Consent