MAKE YOUR FREE Missouri Advance Directive
What is a Missouri Advance Directive?
The individual making an Advance Directive is known as the "principal," and the people or organizations gaining authority to carry out the principal's wishes are known as "agents." Suitable for Missouri residents, this free Advance Directive can be used in Clay County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County, and in every other region in the state. Any Missouri Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be modified for your specific scenario. As a result of having this document, your healthcare providers will have a record of your preferences, and your agent(s) can offer confirmation that they have the authority to make choices for you when you are not able.
When to use a Missouri 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 Missouri Advance Directive
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
Missouri Advance Directive FAQs
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How do I write an Advance Health-Care Directive in Missouri?
It is fast and easy to record your medical wishes with a free Missouri Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Advance Directive - Provide a few general details, and we will do the rest
- Send and share - Discuss your wishes with your healthcare agent(s) or ask a lawyer
- Sign and make it legal - Optional or not, notarization and witnesses are encouraged
This solution is, in many cases, notably less time-consuming than working with the average law firm. If needed, you may prepare an Advance Directive on behalf of your spouse or another family member, and then help them sign it after you've drafted it. Please note that for this document to be valid, the principal must be mentally competent at the time of signing. If the principal is already incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship might be required. When managing this scenario, it is a good idea for you to talk to a lawyer .
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Why should I make an Advance Directive?
Anyone who is over 18 years old ought to have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will) in place. While it may be difficult to think about, a day might come when you aren't able to make healthcare decisions on your own. Here are some typical occasions where it might be helpful to make or update your Advance Directive:
- You are aging or have declining health
- You are preparing to move into a community care facility
- You will be hospitalized for surgery
- You have been given a terminal diagnosis
Regardless of whether your Missouri Advance Directive is being made as a result of a change in your health or as part of a forward-looking plan, witnesses and notarization often help to protect your agent if a third party questions their privileges and authority. That said, Advance Directives in the form of a Living Will are invalid during pregnancy in Missouri.
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Should I hire a lawyer for my Advance Directive in Missouri?
Making an Advance Directive is generally easy to do, but you or your agent(s) could still need legal advice. Getting a lawyer to check your Missouri Advance Directive might be fairly time-intensive. An easier way to get a second pair of eyes on your document would be to request help from Rocket Lawyer attorney services. When you sign up for a Premium membership, you can have your documents examined by an experienced attorney. You can rest assured that Rocket Lawyer will be here for you.
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What would I normally need to pay for a lawyer to help me make an Advance Directive in Missouri?
The fees associated with hiring and working with a legal provider to produce an Advance Directive might total anywhere from $200 to $1,000. Rocket Lawyer is not a run-of-the-mill Advance Directive template website. With our service, anyone under a Rocket Lawyer membership can take advantage of up to 40% in savings when hiring an Rocket Lawyer network attorney.
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Will I need to take additional actions after drafting my Missouri Advance Directive?
With a Premium membership, you will be able to edit it, download it in PDF format or as a Word document, or print it out. In order to make your Missouri Medical Directive truly legal, you need to sign it. You should make sure that your agent(s) and care providers receive their copy of your fully executed document.
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Does an Advance Directive need to be notarized or witnessed in Missouri?
The rules for Advance Directives are different in each state; however, in Missouri, your document needs the signatures of two witnesses if it contains your healthcare preferences (i.e.: a Living Will.) A notary is required if you are appointing a healthcare agent. As a general principle, your witnesses will need to be 18 years old or older, and no witness should also be your agent.