Thinking about funeral arrangements can cause anxiety to even the staunchest long-term planners, but it is perhaps one of the most important things you can do for your family and friends. From a living will to estate planning, planning ahead ensures that your loved ones are tasked with figuring out what you might have wanted in terms of a funeral. An Arizona living will can help with this, giving your loved ones a guideline for how you would have wanted them to proceed in the event that you are unable to make medical decisions that might end up with the necessity for funeral arrangements.

Also referred to as an advanced directive, an Arizona living will makes your medical wishes known. This not includes what you might want to happen should you not retain the ability to make your own medical decisions. How this relates to funeral arrangements falls into line with what you might want done with your physical being should you pass away. You can stipulate this information in your will document, but you can also detail it in your living will as well. This may be particular to things like embalming and how you want your body handled in the event of your death.

Many people mistakenly think that an Arizona living will only refers to things like life support and other life-saving techniques that are often taken when you are unable to make your own decisions. However, for example, if you are an organ donor and want your organs to be harvested immediately after your passing, this is something to include in your living will. Putting this information in your traditional will means that your family may not receive the information in time to take action, as you only have a small window when you pass away to do what is necessary with your body. A living will, particularly one on file with your local medical center, ensures that medical staff knows your wishes immediately upon you losing the ability to make decisions on your medical care and what you want to happen immediately after death and in preparation for your funeral arrangements. In this aspect, you might also want to keep this document on file with your chosen funeral home as well, to ensure that the staff there knows and understands your wishes.

Funeral planning is not the most comfortable part of long-term planning, but it is necessary – including the use of an Arizona living will – to ensure that your wishes are known.

Need Help?

If you are not sure as to what legal document you currently have contact one of our professionals to help you with your estate planning. They will make sure you have all of your grounds covered and have the right legal documents that best suite your wants and needs.

Contact us today by clicking here!