New York Probate Will Lawyers

17,000 Visitors Download Free Living Wills & Health Care Proxy Forms On New York State Bar Association Web Site

ALBANY, NY More than 17,000 visitors have downloaded free forms and information about living wills and health care proxies on the New York State Bar Association's Web site. This information was made available as a public service by the Association as the Terri Schiavo case sparks intense public interest in these issues.

The documents available on the Web site allow individuals to make their wishes known about their treatment in the event of a future illness or incident that leaves them unable to communicate. They also enable the designation of a family member or close friend to make health care decisions for you when you lose the ability to make those decisions for yourself.

State Bar President Kenneth G. Standard of Chappaqua (Epstein, Becker & Green, PC) said, "Lawyers have long advocated the use of living wills and health care proxies so that people can have some measure of control over decisions that are made regarding their health - and indeed, life and death. This is a difficult topic for most people to deal with and many people put it off. However, as the Schiavo case demonstrates, it is very important - whatever your age - to do everything possible to make your wishes clear in advance. We are pleased to be able to respond to this increased public interest by providing information and access to the necessary forms online."

Forms for New York Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and a brochure describing the background and the purpose of these two documents.

Once filled out, signed and witnessed, a Living Will, together with a Health Care Proxy, becomes a legally binding document that gives your family and health care providers your instructions concerning how to proceed with your medical treatment. You may change, update or revoke your Living Will at any time.

Standard also said that the state bar's Elder Law Section would be conducting a statewide series of information programs for senior citizens and their caregivers as part of "Decisionmaking Day" on May 5, to help elderly New Yorkers prepare an annual legal checklist to insure that their affairs are in order. Topics that lawyers will discuss include: health care proxies and living wills, do not resuscitate orders, guardianship issues, powers of attorney, organ donations, probate, and wills.

"This marks the 11th consecutive year the Association will conduct these programs for the public to review advance directives so that individuals make certain they will maintain control of their own healthcare. It is an important step toward ensuring that healthcare wishes will be carried out as planned," he said.

The New York State Bar Association, with more than 71,000 members, is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation.

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