ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY · AKRON, OH
Living Will & Advance Directives in Akron, OH
Spatz Law Group helps families in Akron and across Northeast Ohio put their end-of-life wishes in writing, so the people you love never have to guess or argue about your care.
Sparing your family impossible decisions in the hospital
Hospitals ask families hard questions when a loved one can't speak for themselves. A living will answers them ahead of time. It tells your doctors what life-sustaining treatment you want if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious, in your own words. Your children don't have to guess what you would have wanted, and they don't have to carry the guilt of choosing for you.
Choosing comfort care doesn't mean giving up care
Many people worry that a living will means being left alone at the end. In Ohio, it doesn't. Even when life-sustaining treatment is withheld, comfort care, like pain relief, continues so you stay as comfortable as possible. Your living will lets you say, in your own words, what you want and don't want, so your care reflects your values rather than a default.
What Ohio decides for you without a living will
Without a living will, Ohio law sets an order of people who can make end-of-life decisions for you: a court-appointed guardian if you have one, then your spouse, then your adult children, who must agree by majority, then your parents, your adult siblings and finally your nearest adult relative. That can put grieving siblings in a room, forced to vote. An unmarried partner isn't on that list at all. Putting your wishes in writing takes the decision out of a statute and keeps it where it belongs, with you.
Your attorney
Debra A. Spatz
Licensed in Ohio since 2008 · Ohio Supreme Court Reg. #0083356
Chicago-Kent College of Law · University of Illinois, Finance
Meet DebraBefore your first conversation
Think about what matters most to you at the end of life, and who knows your wishes best. If you have an existing living will or hospital form, bring it.
★★★★★Google review
If you are looking for a local estate attorney in Bath, Ohio, Deb Spatz with Spatz Law Group is truly exceptional. I know several people who have worked with Deb, and they consistently share nothing but positive experiences. Deb takes the time to get to know you and your story, allowing her to create a plan that brings real peace of mind for you and your family. She even offers the option to record a legacy video for your loved ones, which is an incredibly meaningful and lasting gift. Do not wait until it is too late. I highly recommend calling Deb today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a living will and a health care power of attorney?
A living will states your wishes about life-sustaining treatment if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. A health care power of attorney names a person to make any medical decision for you whenever you can't decide for yourself. Most people need both, and they are usually signed together.
Do these documents need to be notarized in Ohio?
They must be signed either in front of a notary or in front of two adult witnesses. Ohio limits who can witness: not a relative by blood, marriage or adoption, not your attending physician, not the administrator of a nursing home where you're receiving care, and not the person you name as your agent. Signing them with your attorney makes sure they're done correctly.
Can I just use the free Ohio living will form?
You can. Ohio's standard form is widely available and valid when signed correctly. The value of doing it with an attorney is making sure it's witnessed properly, that the nutrition and hydration section reflects what you actually want, and that it works together with your health care power of attorney so your family isn't left with gaps. In your Estate Planning Session, Debra handles all of it as part of your plan.
Is a living will the same as a do-not-resuscitate order?
No. A living will guides your care if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. A do-not-resuscitate order in Ohio is a separate medical order signed by your doctor, usually when you are already seriously ill. If you want a DNR, talk with your physician about it alongside your living will.
Does my living will cover feeding tubes?
Only if you say so specifically. In Ohio, if you want artificial nutrition and hydration withheld when you're permanently unconscious, your living will needs a separate, clearly marked statement with your initials or signature beside it. Comfort care, including food and fluids given to ease pain, always continues. Many people miss this step on a form they fill out alone.
Can I change my living will later?
Yes, at any time, as long as you're able to make your own decisions. You can revoke it in any way, as long as it's communicated to your doctor. Review it when your health changes, after a marriage or divorce, or if the person you named is no longer the right choice.
Does my living will apply if I'm only temporarily unconscious?
No. An Ohio living will applies only if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious, as confirmed by your doctors. For a temporary situation, like recovery after surgery, your health care power of attorney is the document that lets your chosen person make decisions for you.
Who should have a copy of my living will?
Your health care agent, your doctor, and the hospital you'd most likely go to, such as Summa Health or Cleveland Clinic Akron General, so it's in your medical record before it's needed. Keep the original somewhere your family can find it quickly.