MAKE YOUR FREE Wisconsin Advance Directive
What is a Wisconsin Advance Directive?
The person making an Advance Directive is called the "principal," while the individual or entity receiving permission to carry out the principal's wishes is known as the "agent." Designed for Wisconsin residents, this free Advance Directive is made for use in Dane County, Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, and in all other regions in the state. Any Wisconsin Advance Directive from Rocket Lawyer can be tailored for your specific scenario. Creating this essential document will provide proof of your decisions to healthcare providers, and it will certify that your representatives have the authority to make choices for you when you are not able.
When to use a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Advance Directive
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
Wisconsin Advance Directive FAQs
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How do I write an Advance Directive in Wisconsin?
It's quick and easy to document your medical wishes with a free Wisconsin Advance Directive template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make your Advance Directive - Provide a few details, and we will do the rest
- Send or share - Look over it with your healthcare agent or seek legal help
- Sign it - Optional or not, notarization/witnesses are encouraged
This solution, in most cases, will end up being notably more affordable and convenient than meeting and hiring the average provider. If needed, you can start an Advance Directive on behalf of your spouse or another family member, and then have them sign after you've drafted it. Please remember that for an Advance Directive to be legally valid, the principal must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. In the event that the principal has already been declared legally incompetent, a court-appointed conservatorship generally will be necessary. When dealing with this situation, it is a good idea to connect with an attorney .
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Do I need to make an Advance Directive?
Anyone who is over 18 ought to have an Advance Healthcare Directive (both a Healthcare Power of Attorney and a Living Will). While it is unpleasant to think about, a day could come when you are not able to make healthcare decisions on your own. Here are some common circumstances where it can be helpful to make or update your Advance Directive:
- You reside in or have plans to move into a community care facility
- You have been diagnosed with a terminal condition
- You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issue
- You are facing the possibility of medical procedure or period of hospitalization
Regardless of whether your Wisconsin Advance Directive is being made in response to a change in your health or as part of a long-term plan, witnesses and/or notarization are highly recommended for protecting this document and/or your agent if someone disputes their privileges. That said, Advance Directives containing your medical preferences are not valid during pregnancy in Wisconsin.
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Do I need a lawyer to review my Advance Directive in Wisconsin?
Making an Advance Directive is generally simple, but you or your agent(s) might still have legal questions. The answer will depend on whom you ask, but quite often some attorneys will not even accept requests to review a document that they didn't work on. A better approach to consider is to go through attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. As a Premium member, you will be able to ask for feedback from an attorney with relevant experience or send additional legal questions about your Advance Directive. We're here for you.
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On average, how much would it typically cost for me to make an Advance Directive in Wisconsin?
The cost of finding and hiring the average law firm to produce an Advance Directive could be anywhere from two hundred to one thousand dollars, depending on where you are located. When using Rocket Lawyer, you are not just filling out an Advance Directive template. In case you ever need assistance from a lawyer, your Rocket Lawyer membership provides up to a 40% discount when you hire an attorney from our Rocket Lawyer attorney network.
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Would I need to do anything else after I make my Wisconsin Advance Directive?
Each Advance Directive has its own checklist of instructions for what is next with regard to finalizing the document. With a Premium membership, you will be able to edit, download it as a Word document or PDF file, or sign it. Finally, be sure that your agent(s), care providers, and other impacted parties receive their copy of the final document.
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Does an Advance Directive need to be notarized or witnessed in Wisconsin?
The guidelines and restrictions governing Advance Directives will be different in each state; however, in Wisconsin, your document needs two witnesses. Your chosen witnesses should not be people who are responsible for the cost of your medical care or any healthcare provider/facility or their employee (other than a chaplain or social worker). You should also exclude family members, including your spouse, domestic partner, or adopted children, along with other relatives, heirs, or beneficiaries. As a general principle, witnesses should be over 18 years old, and none of them should also be your healthcare agent.