Robert Montgomery, county recorder, said the entire collection of the Ohio Bar Association approved "Advance Directive Forms" is now available to the general public online, including such forms as: Do Not Resuscitate; Hospice Choice; Living Will Declaration Notice to Declarant; Notice to Adult Executing this Document; and Ohio's Health Care Power of Attorney.
The recorder's office said the living will forms were created because experts claim that 50 percent of all living wills are not be found in the event of an emergency, mainly because the declarant -- the person who made out the will -- is not competent to communicate at that time. A living will is not needed until the patient is permanently unconscious or terminally ill and unable to be aware of these circumstances, and, most importantly, a living will has no impact unless the person's family can find it.
The living will can be accessed by the declarant, the family and any necessary health care providers can access it over the Internet at anytime. Officials said that within minutes after a document is filed with the recorder's office, it may be viewed online anywhere. There is a recording fee for filing the living will.
A living will is more important for a young adult than an older person, county officials said, also noting that a person considering filling out a living will should consult an attorney for legal advice.
Franklin County Recorder's Office
