• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sinclair Prosser Gasior

Annapolis Estate Planning Attorneys

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Call Now: (410) 573-4818

Attend a Free Workshop Trustee School

  • Home
  • About Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Founding Attorneys
    • Meet Our Team
  • Services
    • Annapolis, MD Asset Protection and Business Planning
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Annapolis, MD Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Annapolis, MD Trust Administration & Probate
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Annapolis, MD Incapacity Planning
    • Annapolis, MD LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Annapolis, MD Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Annapolis, MD Special Needs Planning
    • Estate Planning for Young Families
  • Resources
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Estate Planning Definitions
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Estate Planning
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid
      • Power of Attorney
      • Probate Avoidance
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Probate Resources
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques
    • Newsletters
  • COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
    • Anne Arundel County
      • Annapolis
      • Crownsville
      • Davidsonville
      • Highland Beach
      • Millersville
    • Baltimore County
    • Calvert County
      • Dunkirk
      • Huntingtown
      • Owings
    • Charles County
      • Charlotte Hall
      • Waldorf
    • District of Columbia
    • Howard County
    • Maryland
      • Clarksville
      • Columbia
      • Ellicott City
    • Prince George County
      • Bowie
      • Fort Washington
      • Glenn Dale
    • Queen Anne’s County
      • Grasonville
      • Queenstown
      • Stevensville
    • St. Mary’s County
      • Charlotte Hall
      • Leonardtown
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact Us
  • Make A Payment
  • Client Portal
Home / Do You Have a Living Will?

Do You Have a Living Will?

April 14, 2022 by Laura Curry, Estate Planning Attorney

When you are engaged in the process of estate planning, you are going to arrange for the eventual transfer of your monetary assets. This is often done through the execution of a last will and testament or a trust. The last will that is used to transfer assets is not the only type of will that exists. There is another type of will called a living will.

The living will is an important estate planning document to have. A comprehensive estate plan will include and prepare for the period of time that will precede your death. This involves the execution of advance health care directives. A living will is one of these advance health care directives and plans for the situation when death is imminent and there is no reasonable likelihood of recovery.

You could become unable to communicate late in your life. In many instances doctors can keep people alive who are in terminal conditions through the utilization of artificial life support measures. If you cannot communicate your decisions with regard to the use of life-support, how should the doctors proceed?

You can provide the answer to this question by executing a living will. In the living you will express your preferences regarding the use of life-sustaining measures. Once you have a living will in place, the medical community will follow your instructions and your loved ones will know your wishes. You can rest assured that your choices will be honored if you were to become incapacitated and unable to communicate.

If you do not have a living will in place and you become unable to communicate medical decisions, physicians would be forced to seek answers from your closest legal relatives. On a personal level, this is a very difficult position to put someone in.

One of the possible negative consequences of inaction could be the relative making a decision that you would not have made yourself. In addition to this, you may be inviting serious disagreements among your family members.

A real-life example exists that is often used to explain the type of situation that can ensue if you do not have a living will in place.  A number of years ago a woman who was in her 20’s named Terri Schiavo fell into a vegetative state after suffering full cardiac arrest. Her parents were still living and she was married. Schiavo did not execute a living will.

After a number of years, her husband wanted the doctors to remove the feeding tubes that were keeping Schiavo alive. Convinced that there was no hope of recovery, he felt as though this was the course of action that she would have preferred. Her parents disagreed. Legal actions were initiated. The case was all over the news for an extended period of time. Eventually the artificial nutrition and hydration devices were removed. However, there was a great deal of acrimony between the interested parties. It could have been avoided if a living will had been executed in advance.

This case demonstrates the fallout that can come about if you do not have a living will in place. It also underscores the importance of advance planning for people of all ages. You never know what the future holds. Individuals of all ages encounter catastrophic circumstances each and every day. Some people suffer from unexpected medical conditions, and others are injured in accidents. While you are certainly going to hope for the best, you should be prepared for any and all eventualities that may befall you, regardless of your age.

Attend a Free Seminar

You may not be aware of all of the important documents that would typically be included in a well constructed estate plan. This is understandable, and we are available to you if you would like to obtain a foundation of very useful information. We offer free estate planning workshops that are found to be educational, informative and easy to understand.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Laura Curry, Estate Planning Attorney
Laura Curry, Estate Planning Attorney
Attorney at Sinclair Prosser Gasior
Laura Curry first became interested in estates and trusts when practicing as a family law attorney at the start of her career. She learned that each family had their own dynamics which shapes their goals and desired outcome. It was quickly apparent to her that planning and re-evaluating plans when necessary is critical to families as life changes course.

Laura’s unique professional background as a family law attorney and working at a creditors’ rights law firm provides her with the skills to bring comprehensive services to our clients. Laura was first attracted to Sinclair Prosser Gasior because of their approach to work with clients throughout years and life stages. Sinclair Prosser Gasior strives to make our clients confident about their choices to provide peace of mind and lasting security.
Laura Curry, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Laura Curry, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Estate Planning for Your Tangible Property - January 11, 2023
  • What Can Be Purchased with a Special Needs Trust? - December 8, 2022
  • Estate Planning for Blended Families - October 20, 2022

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Living Wills

Other Articles You May Find Useful

What Happens with my Car at my Death?
Estate Planning for Your Tangible Property
Annapolis estate planning attorney
What Are the Duties and Responsibility of a Trustee When Administering a Trust?
What Do Executors Need to Know?
What Can Be Purchased with a Special Needs Trust?
Annapolis probate attorney
How Social Media Posts Might Impact a Will Contest

Primary Sidebar

Download our free estate planning worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

5 Stars
Client Review
September 3, 2020
    

We initiated estate planning following a presentation by Sinclair Prosser Attorney Jon Gasior. We were so impressed, we contracted with them to complete our estate planning. Subsequently, we assembled information on our assets and Sinclair Prosser Gasior did the rest. Correspondence was communicated to our financial institutions and the estate was established. We were very pleased with the courteous manner of the Sinclair Prosser Gasior staff. However, it was their professionalism that made us satisfied we chose this firm to handle our estate. We have nothing but praise for Sinclair Prosser Gasior .

default image
– Walter K.

Blog Subscription

Sign up for our blog to receive all of our latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ANNAPOLIS

900 Bestgate Road
Suite 103, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone: (410) 573-4818
Fax: (410) 573-2802

BOWIE

4201 Mitchellville Road
Suite 403, Bowie, MD 20716
Phone: (301) 970-8080
Fax: (410) 573-2802

MILLERSVILLE

1520 Jabez Run Rd
Suite 300, Millersville, Maryland 21108
Phone: (410) 573-4818
Fax: (410) 573-2802

WALDORF

Hamilton Centre II
3261 Old Washington Road, Suite 2020 Waldorf, MD 20602
Phone: 800-366-4615

Map

map for office

Footer

footer logo
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Maryland Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys| Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map