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Rhode Island Living Will Lawyer
Planning futures. Protecting legacies. Preserving peace of mind.
A living will says what medical treatment you want, and do not want, if you cannot speak for yourself. Paired with a healthcare power of attorney, it keeps those decisions with you and the person you trust, not with a hospital committee or a court.
What your directive covers
Life-sustaining treatment, and the limits you set
Who speaks for you with your doctors
Where the document is, when it is needed
35+
Years experience
1,000+
Case representations
100+
Businesses served
24/7
Available to you
Is this for you?
Who this is for, and what it does
This is for you if
You have views about life support, resuscitation, or feeding tubes
You are facing a serious diagnosis or major surgery
You want to spare your family from guessing
You have no healthcare documents, or they are from another state
What it does
States your treatment preferences in writing
Takes effect only when you cannot decide for yourself
Names a healthcare agent to interpret and advocate
Gives doctors legal cover to follow your wishes
How it works
From first conversation to signed documents
1
Talk it through
What matters to you about care, comfort, and quality of life. There are no wrong answers, only unspoken ones.
2
Draft
A living will under Rhode Island's statute, plus a healthcare power of attorney naming your agent and an alternate.
3
Sign
Executed with the witnesses Rhode Island requires, so hospitals accept it without question.
4
Place it
Copies to your agent, your physician, and your medical record, and a card for your wallet.
What we do for you
How Tarro Law will help you
A plain-English conversation first
You describe your family and what you own. We explain the options without jargon, and you decide.
Documents drafted for Rhode Island
Every document is written to Rhode Island's requirements, not adapted from a generic form.
Scope agreed before we start
You know exactly what is included before any work begins. No open-ended billing on planning work.
Signing done properly
Witnesses, notary, and execution handled so banks, hospitals, and courts accept the documents.
Reviewed as life changes
A marriage, a birth, a move, or a sale can change the plan. We tell you when it is time to revisit it.
Direct access to your attorney
Phone, email, and the client portal, with a lawyer who knows your file. Hablamos español.
Living Wills
What we prepare
The documents and steps that typically make up this work. Not every item applies to every client; we tell you which you need.
Living will
Your instructions about life-sustaining treatment.
Healthcare power of attorney
The person who decides when you cannot.
HIPAA authorization
Lets your agent and family see your records.
Organ donation directive
Your wishes, stated clearly.
Physician copy
Filed with your medical record so it is found.
Review schedule
Revisited after any major diagnosis or change of mind.
Why it matters
Without a plan, and with one
Situation
Without a plan
With Tarro Law
Who decides treatment
Family members, possibly in disagreement, or a court
Your agent, following your written instructions
Your wishes
Guessed at, or unknown
Documented and legally recognised
Doctors
May default to maximum intervention
Have clear authority to follow your preferences
Family burden
Carries the weight of the decision
Carries out a decision you already made
About the firm
Local roots in Providence. Statewide reach across Rhode Island.
Tarro Law Associates has spent more than 35 years helping Rhode Island families and business owners plan, protect, and pass on what they have built, from its office on Broadway in Providence. Clients work directly with their attorney, and our attorneys are licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Florida.
No office visit is needed for most planning work:
Meet by phone or video, or in person in Providence
Review drafts and share documents through the secure client portal
Sign with the witnesses and notary Rhode Island requires, arranged by us
Common questions
Living Wills questions we hear first
What is the difference between a living will and a healthcare power of attorney?
A living will states your wishes about treatment. A healthcare power of attorney names a person to make medical decisions for you. One speaks, the other acts. Most people need both, and we prepare them together.
When does a living will take effect?
Only when you are unable to make or communicate your own healthcare decisions, as determined by your physicians. While you can decide for yourself, you do.
Can I change my mind later?
Yes, at any time. A living will can be revoked or replaced, and your spoken wishes while you are competent always control.
Will Rhode Island hospitals follow it?
A living will executed under Rhode Island's statute is legally recognised, and providers who follow it are protected. Proper execution and making sure the document is in your medical record are what matter.
I have a directive from another state. Is it valid here?
Often it will be honoured, but formats and witness rules vary. If you have moved to Rhode Island, replacing it with a Rhode Island document removes the uncertainty at the moment it is needed.
More ways we can help
Other services at Tarro Law
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Estate plans, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and estate disputes.
Personal Injury
Crashes, falls, medical negligence, and catastrophic or fatal injuries across Rhode Island.
Fractional General Counsel
A dedicated business attorney on a month-to-month plan, for a set monthly fee.
Other estate planning services in Rhode Island
Next step
Make the Call™
Tell us about your family and what you own. We will explain what a plan would include, what it costs, and how long it takes. Someone answers 24/7.
Main office
Providence, RI
425 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909
Serving
Every city and town in Rhode Island, and clients in Massachusetts and Florida.
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