No matter how often you've expressed your desires regarding your end-of-life wishes to your loved ones, the only way to ensure they're respected is to write a living will. Unfortunately, many Americans haven't prepared one, which the estate planning and probate lawyers at Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. in Hamilton, OH, say could leave your family with some very stressful decisions to make.

This document, which is sometimes called a health care directive, dictates your desires if you become unable to make health care decisions for yourself. If you are in a persistent vegetative state or a coma with little hope of recovery, your family members could very likely have serious disagreements about the best way to care for you. These conflicts can sometimes tear families apart, causing rifts that could take years to heal, making your loss even more traumatic.

With a living will, you can leave very detailed instructions about your health care desires in a variety of contexts, eliminating the chances of serious disagreement between your family members and health care providers. In a living will, you get to designate the person who will act on your behalf as well as the circumstances in which the living will goes into effect.

The attorneys at Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. have been taking care of the legal needs of Hamilton residents for over 100 years. Their experienced team of legal professionals will help ensure that your living will leaves no room for misunderstanding. Visit their website to learn more, or call (513) 867-1411 to schedule a consultation today.