A Virginia Advance Directive is an official document that combines a medical power of attorney and a living will form that allows residents to establish preferences for end-of-life care. It gives the right to freely appoint an agent to perform health care treatment and communicate with the doctors and medical staff if a declarant loses the ability to make decisions. It is essential to know that there is an option of not choosing a representative to make decisions if you do not want it.
The document is of great significance, as it covers the issues of one’s end-of-life planning. Those who are older than 55 or experience serious health problems might be interested to learn more about it.
As it is stated in §54.1-2983 of Virginia state law, any competent adult may, at any time, make a written advance directive concerning the providing, withholding, or withdrawal of life-prolonging treatment if any kind of severe emergency happens. A physician does not get a right to select an option that was not noted in the form.
You may find the following terms in §54.1-2982. Definitions of Virginia state law:
Two subscribing witnesses over the age of 18 should be present to make the Advance Directive valid. As it has been said, these may be relatives or medical staff acting in good faith.
In case a patient is diagnosed to be in a terminal condition, he or she may make an oral advance directive. Two witnesses and an attending physician shall be present.
Suppose a patient is in comatose or incapable of communicating due to any kind of physical or mental disability. In that case, any other person may let the attending doctor know about the existing advance directive, and, if applicable, the fact that it has been submitted to the Advance Health Care Directive Registry.
| Document Name | Virginia Living Will Form |
| State Form Name | Virginia Advance Directive for Health Care |
| Signing Requirements | Two Witnesses |
| Validity Requirements | Section 54.1-2983 |
| Powers Limitation | Section 54.1-2983.3 |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 13 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 48 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF; Microsoft Word |
| State Laws: Virginia Code, Sections 54.1-2981 to 54.1-2993.1 | |
You should follow six steps to complete the Virginia Advance Directive Living Will form:
1. Download the form
To fill out the Virginia Living Will form, you can conveniently use our Online Forms Building Software on our website.
2. Fill in essential data
First, you need to enter your full name and date of birth to proceed with the section with information concerning your health care preferences.
3. Appoint an agent
Give information about the legal representative you would like to make decisions about your end-of-life treatment in case you are unable to. There shall also be picked a second agent if your first chosen cannot be found available or in goodwill to act as your agent.
4. Describe your health care preferences
In Section 2, you shall express what ways you would prefer to be treated. Mind that your attending physician and health care agent shall not stick to these instructions if they are ethically inappropriate or against the law.
5. Express your attitude to become an organ donor
Section 3 outlooks the possibility of organ donation. You may leave this decision to your agent if you wish.
6. Sign the document
Check all the information again, and put your signature. Consider that you have a right to cancel any part of the AD or even all of it if you change your mind while conscious and competent.
