One of the most important documents that a person can create is an advance directive. It empowers another person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them. This means that you can appoint someone to act as your agent to ensure that they make decisions that are in your best interests.
What Is An Advance Directive?
If you fear being unable to make decisions in the future, you can make an advance directive. Here is what you can expect from an advance directive if you become incapacitated.
- DNR (Do Not Resuscitate): It lets medical experts know that you do not want CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) to be performed if your heart no longer beats.
- Life-Prolonging Treatment: Specifies whether you want treatments involving CPR, kidney dialysis, and breathing machines.
- POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment): The instruction covers whether you require hydration and ratification nutrition or not.
- Terminal Condition: It refers to an injury or illness that is in a terminal stage and is incurable.
- Consistent Vegetative State: The instruction covers an unconscious state or permanent coma caused by an illness or injury.
Do You Need To Notarize An Advance Directive?
The majority of states require advance directives to be notarized. Two witnesses would also be required before the notary. However, your witnesses have to be other than your present caretaker, advocate, or anyone who can file a claim against your state. No matter which state you might live in, it is always best to notarize important legal documents to stay on the safe side. You should never take the risk of not notarizing the advance directive as it would complicate things.
How You Can Prepare To Notarize An Advance Directive?
Here is what an advance directive would cover.
- Your information such as full name, phone number, and home address.
- Designation of your representative.
- Powers assigned to the representative.
- Instructions for different medical situations.
- A notary and witness signature page.
Notarization
After you have created the advance directive, you will need to locate a notary who can proceed by signing the document and placing the seal. Make sure that you take two witnesses with you at the appointment for a smooth notarization. Finding a licensed notary is essential for ensuring that the advance directive is legally enforceable. You also have to look for a notary who has a valid state license in order to sign the document and affix the seal.
How To Find A Notary Near Me?
Finding a notary is not an easy task. Although you might be able to find one at a tax preparation office, real estate office, a bank, or any other business that deals with legal documents, you might want to opt for a mobile notary or an online notary.
You might be surprised that you can’t find a notary at the post office.
A mobile notary can come to your desired address. However, finding a mobile notary in a rural area is not possible. On the other hand, an online notary can notarize your document any time of the day. In fact, you would not need to go anywhere and can use the service from the comfort of your home.
Can the Notary Notarize Advance Directives?
Fortunately, just about any notary public should be able to notarize your advance directive. You must present your valid license if you want to use an online notary service such as Blue Notary.
Is Notarization Necessary For Advance Directive To Be Deemed Valid?
Notarization is essential for ensuring that your document has legal authority. When a notary public notarizes your advance directive, he or she asserts that the document is valid. Notarization is recommended as it ensures legal validity and transparency. As a notary is not a lawyer, you cannot ask one if the document is legally valid or not. Their only purpose is to make sure that your signature is valid.
How You Can Notarize An Advance Directive Online?
An online notary service such as Blue Notary allows for quick and easy notarization of documents. You can use the platform to find a notary without having to leave your home or office. The following steps need to be followed to get your documents notarized online.
- Create an account on Blue Notary to request an appointment for notarization by choosing a slot that suits you best.
- Make sure that you get witnesses.
- Download the advance directive once the appointment starts.
- The notary will ask questions to verify your identity and that of your witnesses.
- After the notary is satisfied, he or she would notarize the documents and you can download them.