This first step is where you survey your health care treatment options and anticipate future issues. If you are severely injured or otherwise incapacitated, what medical treatments do you consent to receive? Which treatments do you not agree to? These are the types of considerations that need to be made before you draft your Nevada living will.

Anticipate the types of life-sustaining care you would want to receive after you have been incapacitated, including but not limited to the following:

• Artificial hydration and nutrition
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Artificial respiration
• Other life-prolonging procedures that extend or prevent the natural dying process

Once you survey these treatments and feel secure in your long-term health care decisions, you may proceed with drafting your document.

It is not required to name an agent in your living will, but it’s always a good idea. An agent is your advocate if you become so seriously injured or incapacitated that you cannot convey your own medical wishes. In Nevada, your agent holds what’s called “durable power of attorney” should you become unable to advocate for yourself.

Choose someone you trust and whom you are comfortable with advocating for your medical decisions. Additionally, it would be best to choose an alternate agent if your original agent is unable or unwilling to serve. This most usually occurs in an emergency when your original agent cannot be reached. If you decide to name agents in your living will, your document must include a form called “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.” That form will need to have the following information:

• The names of each agent
• Their addresses
• Their phone numbers

The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care must be signed, dated, and observed by two witnesses. It can be completed and included alongside your Nevada living will.

Nevada law requires that your living will include either a notary seal or the signatures of two witnesses. You do not need both. Choose which of the following options best suits you:

• Sealed by a notary public: Nevada living wills require two witnesses only if the document is not sealed by a notary public. A notary public is a public officer that performs specific non-contentious legal procedures. Notaries public fill various roles, but they can be found easily, like at your local bank. If you choose to go the notary route, they must view you sign your living will. They then must sign the document themselves and provide their notary seal.
• Viewed and signed by two witnesses: Your other option is to have your living will viewed and signed by two witnesses. If you choose this option, you do not need to secure a notary signature and seal. Instead, your living will requires your witnesses to sign, date, and print their names and residential addresses.

The most important part of the process is also the easiest. As documented above, your living will must either be signed in the presence of a notary public, or the signed document must be viewed by two witnesses who then also sign it.

Once you have your completed, signed living will, make multiple copies for safekeeping and provide them to interested parties. Keep the original document secure in a safe or lockbox, and consider providing copies to the following people:

• Your health care provider
• Your agent
• Your backup agent
• Your loved ones