MAKE YOUR FREE South Carolina Advance Directive
What is a South Carolina Advance Directive?
The person making an Advance Directive is called the "principal," and the person or organization receiving permission to carry out the principal's wishes is called the "agent." Suitable for residents of South Carolina, this Advance Directive is made for use in Richland County, Charleston County, Greenville County, and in all other counties and municipalities across the state. Each South Carolina Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized for your particular situation. This official legal document provides a record of your decisions to healthcare providers, and it will certify that your chosen agent has been given the authority to make choices for you when you are not able.
When to use a South Carolina 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 South Carolina Advance Directive
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
South Carolina Advance Directive FAQs
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How do I make an Advance Directive in South Carolina?
It is fast and easy to record your medical wishes with a free South Carolina Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Advance Directive - Answer a few basic questions, and we will do the rest
- Send and share - Look over the document with your healthcare agent(s) or seek legal advice
- Sign and make it legal - Mandatory or not, witnesses and notarization are a best practice
This solution is often notably less expensive and less time-consuming than meeting and hiring a traditional provider. If necessary, you can start an Advance Directive on behalf of your spouse, an elderly parent, or another family member, and then have them sign it after you've drafted it. Please keep in mind that for this document to be valid, the principal must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. If the principal is already unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship could be necessary. When managing such a situation, it's a good idea to speak to a lawyer .
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Do I need to make an Advance Directive?
If you are over 18 years old, you should have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will). While it's painful to think about, there could come a time when you cannot make your own medical decisions. Here are some typical situations in which you may find it useful to make or update your Advance Directive:
- You are currently managing a terminal condition
- You are facing the possibility of medical procedure or hospitalization
- You have plans to move into an adult care facility
- You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issue
Whether this South Carolina Advance Directive has been drafted as part of a forward-looking plan or made in response to a recent change in your health, witnesses and notarization can often help to protect your document if someone questions its lawfulness.
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Do I need a lawyer for my Advance Directive in South Carolina?
Making an Advance Directive is usually simple to do; however, you or your agent(s) might need advice. Finding a legal professional to review your South Carolina Advance Directive could be expensive. A more cost-effective way to double-check your document would be through Rocket Lawyer attorney services. By becoming a Premium member, you can have your documents looked at by an experienced attorney. You can rest assured that Rocket Lawyer will be here for you.
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How much would I traditionally have to pay to make an Advance Directive in South Carolina?
The cost of finding and working with your average legal provider to write an Advance Directive could total anywhere from $200 to $1,000, depending on where you are located. Unlike other Advance Directive template websites that you may discover elsewhere, Rocket Lawyer gives members up to 40% in savings when hiring a lawyer, so an Rocket Lawyer network attorney can represent you if you ever require assistance.
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Would I have to take additional actions once I make my South Carolina Advance Directive?
Each Advance Directive has its own list of instructions that you'll need to follow to finalize your document. As a Rocket Lawyer member, you will be able to make edits, save it in PDF format or as a Word document, print it out, and/or sign it. Finally, you should give a copy of the signed document to your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties.
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Does an Advance Directive need to be notarized or witnessed in South Carolina?
The specifications and restrictions will vary by state; however, in South Carolina, your Advance Directive needs the signatures of two witnesses and a notary public when it contains both your healthcare preferences and the appointment of an agent. If you are only appointing an agent, then a notary is optional. Witnesses to your Advance Directive form shouldn't be your attending physician or their employees, nor can they be anyone who is directly responsible for your healthcare costs, your spouse, relatives, adoptees, heirs, or other beneficiaries. As a basic standard, your witnesses must be at least 18 years old, and none should also be designated as your agent.