The West Virginia Living Will formulates a registered declaration of the desired manner to handle medical situations for an individual should they become incapacitated. The decisions made after the principal party enters a state of sustained unconsciousness will be predetermined in the paperwork to be followed as needed. The contract is a standard end-of-life preparation measure that is a responsible, proactive approach to managing the possibility of unforeseen health-related events that could occur. Allocated space is provided to edit limitations and specify particular wishes regarding the management of health care options as well as autopsy preferences, organ donation, and funeral arrangements. Once the filling is prepared, confirmation can be attained with the recorded endorsements from the declarant and two (2) acceptable witnesses in the presence of a notary professional.

Laws

Statute – West Virginia Health Care Decisions Act (W.V.C. § 16-30)

Definition – “Living will” means a written, witnessed advance directive governing the withholding or withdrawing of life-prolonging intervention, voluntarily executed by a person in accordance with the requirements of §16-30-4 of this code (§ 16-30-3(n)).

Signing Requirements – To sufficiently acknowledge the document, the state of West Virginia demands that it be signed before a notary and two (2) suitable witnessing parties per the West Virginia Code § 16-30-4.

Revocation – § 16-30-18