topic | life planning - medical directives

Step 2: create a living will

The second advance directive, commonly called a Living Will, espresses a person's wishes for life support treatments when unable to communicate (e.g. coma, 'vegetative state'). The Living Will can specify whether or not to provide:

  • Cardiopulmonary treatments
  • Artificial respiration
  • Artificial means of feeding and hydration
  • Hospice treatment
  • Bedside clergy
  • Organ donation
  • Artificial life support (length of time)
  • An autopsy (unless required by law)

A Living Will is for medical purposes only and is not the same as a Will.


Activity 1
Identify questions to be answered in a Living Will

Living Wills are state specific. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization website provides samples for each state:

http://caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289


Activity 2
Complete the Living Will

Seek the advice of an estate attorney to complete and activate the state specific Living Will.


Activity 3
Securely store the Living Will

The completed document should be securely stored and copies distributed to others, such as the executor. An estate attorney can provide guidance.

A digital lockbox (http://www.myestatemanager.com/#dlb ) can securely store the Living Will and other estate documents.
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