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New Jersey Living Will Form (Instruction Directive)

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New Jersey Living Will Form (Instruction Directive)

Updated August 03, 2023

A New Jersey living will, or “instruction directive,” allows a person to refuse life-sustaining treatments when in an incurable and irreversible illness, disease, or condition. What is considered incurable and irreversible is decided by the person completing the directive. After completing, a living will must be signed with two (2) witnesses or a notary public.

Definition

Instruction directive” means a writing which provides instructions and direction regarding the declarant’s wishes for health care in the event that the declarant subsequently lacks decision making capacity.

Laws

How to Write

Download: PDF

Step 1 – Establishing the Declarant- The Declarant must carefully read the first two paragraphs of the document

  • Enter the Declarant’s name

Step 2 – Statement of My Wishes Concerning Future Health Care – Declarant must read the paragraphs

  • Initial your selection with regard to your preference
  • If number 2 was selected – initial a,, b. c. or all three
  • If more information must be added, you  may do so in the lines provided

Step 3 – Specfic Instructions – In the next three sections you will provide more specific instructions with regard to how you would like your health care arranged with your medical team. Read the information in this area.  In the next three sections, in the space provided, write in the bracketed phrase with which you agree:

  • Should you feel that none of the information adequately describes your wishes, then write into the lines provided, what your preferences are.

Step 4 – Additional Instructions: Should you feel that you would like your family or medical team to confer with one another before any decisions are concluded, write this information into the lines provided.

  • If you could become or are pregnant, be very specific with regard to how you would like your medical care to be arranged.

Step 5 – Addressing Brain Death – The state of New Jersey is very respectful with regard to how this aspect of end-of-life procedures is handled according to many aspects, religion being most important.

  • The Declarant must carefully read this section of the document. If in disagreement based on religion or any other reason, initial the box below the statement, to ensure that your wishes are properly honored as they should be.

Step 6 – After Death- Anatomical Donations – It is now possible to use human organs as research to increase the understanding of how to better heal the human body and even more importantly, transplant human organs and tissue in order to save and improve the lives of others. If you would be interested in becoming a part of this program, it’s asked that you indicate that if this is something you would like to consider, that you would initial the areas that best fit your choices.

  • Should you choose not to participate in this program, simply go to the end of the section and initial the section stating that you choose not to participate.

Step 7 – Signature and Witness -It is important that an original copy of this document be provided to your physician, a family member or friend. Provide the following information with regard to the person or persons that you wish to have an original copy of this document by providing the following:

  • Name
  • Address
  • City
  • State
  • Telephone Number

Step 8 – Signature of Declarant – The Declarant must read the statement stating that they do, in fact, understand what has been stated as their personal decisions pertaining to their end-of-life decisions. Once they’ve read the statement, if in agreement, the Declarant must provide the following:

  • Date the signature in dd/mm/yyyy format
  • Provide Declarant’s Signature
  • Address
  • City
  • State

Step 9 – Signature of Witnesses – Once the witnesses have been present before the Declarant and witnesses their signature, the witnesses must provide the following:

Witness 1 –

  • Witness’ Printed Name
  • Address
  • City
  • State
  • Witness’ Signature
  • Date of Signature in mm/dd/yyyy format

Witness 2 –

  • Witness’ Printed Name
  • Address
  • City
  • State
  • Witness’ Signature
  • Date of Signature in mm/dd/yyyy format