Is the Five Wishes will a legal document?

Five Wishes is a legal document that was written under the direction of the American Bar Association's Commission on Law and Aging, states Friends of Hospice. As long as the signing directions are followed, it is valid as it is in most states.

Some states may require that the document be notarized or attached to other documents, according to Aging With Dignity. It is important for a person to give a copy of his Five Wishes will to his health care provider to ensure that his wishes are honored when the time comes. The doctor must follow the stated wishes in accordance with state laws, notes Friends of Hospice.