MAKE YOUR FREE Alabama Advance Directive
What is an Alabama Advance Directive for Health Care?
The person making an Advance Directive is known as the "principal," while the person or entity receiving permission to carry out the principal's wishes is called the "agent." Designed for Alabama residents, this Advance Directive is made for use in Mobile County, Madison County, Jefferson County, and in all other regions in the state. Each Alabama Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized to address your specific scenario. This legal document provides proof of your preferences to healthcare facilities, and it will certify that your agents have been given the authority to act in your interest when you are not able.
When to use an Alabama Advance Directive:
- You're making sure your loved ones aren't put in the position of making important end-of-life healthcare decisions for you.
- You're about to draft a complete estate plan, and want to make sure life-sustaining treatments are covered.
Sample Alabama Advance Directive
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
Alabama Advance Directive FAQs
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How do I write an Advance Directive in Alabama?
It's fast and easy to record your medical preferences using a free Alabama Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Advance Directive - Provide a few general details, and we will do the rest
- Send or share it - Go over it with your healthcare agent or get legal advice
- Sign it and make it legal - Mandatory or not, notarization/witnesses are encouraged
This solution, in many cases, would end up being notably less expensive than finding and hiring your average law firm. If needed, you can prepare this Advance Directive on behalf of a relative, and then help that person sign once you've drafted it. Please keep in mind that for this document to be legally valid, the principal must be an adult who is mentally competent when they sign. If the principal has already been declared legally incompetent, a conservatorship may be necessary. In this situation, it is important to connect with a lawyer .
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Why should I write an Advance Directive?
Every person over 18 should have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Living Will and a Healthcare Power of Attorney) in place. While it's challenging to acknowledge, a day will likely come when you are no longer able to make healthcare decisions on your own. Here are a few typical circumstances where it would be helpful to make or update your Advance Directive:
- You are undergoing a medical procedure requiring anesthesia
- You are aging or have declining health
- You've been diagnosed with a terminal illness
- You have plans to move into a residential care facility
Regardless of whether this Alabama Advance Directive has been produced as a result of a recent change in your health or as part of a forward-looking plan, notarization and witnesses can help to protect your agent if anyone disputes their power and authority. In Alabama, this document is not valid if you are pregnant.
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Do I need a lawyer for my Advance Directive in Alabama?
Making an Advance Directive is normally easy to do; however, you or your agent may need advice. Getting a second opinion on the document might take a long time if you try to do it by yourself. Another approach might be through the Rocket Lawyer On Call® attorney network. Premium members can request a document review from an experienced attorney or pose other questions. As always, you can live confidently with Rocket Lawyer by your side.
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How much would I usually have to pay for a lawyer to help me make an Advance Directive in Alabama?
The cost of finding and hiring a law firm to produce an Advance Directive could range anywhere between $200 and $1,000. Different from many other websites you might come across, Rocket Lawyer offers much more than an Advance Directive template. If you ever need assistance from a lawyer, your Rocket Lawyer membership provides up to a 40% discount when you hire an attorney.
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Would I have to do anything else after I have drafted my Alabama Advance Directive?
Alongside each Advance Directive, there's a series of next steps you can take to finalize your document. Feel free to take any of the following actions with your document: editing it, printing it, or signing it. Finally, your agent(s) and care providers should receive a copy of your fully executed document.
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Does an Advance Directive need to be notarized or witnessed in Alabama?
The rules and restrictions governing Advance Directives are different in each state; however, in Alabama, your document requires two witnesses. Witnesses cannot be anyone who is responsible for the cost of your medical care, nor should they be a spouse/relative, heir, or any other beneficiary. As a basic rule, your witnesses should be at least 19 years old, and no witness should also be designated as your agent.