What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for medical care if you are unable to communicate them yourself. It can be used to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment, organ donation, and other medical care.

How is a living will different from a traditional will?

A traditional will is a legal document in which you assign your assets to people after you die. A living will is a document that outlines your wishes for medical care if you are unable to communicate them yourself. This is also similar to what you may have heard referred to as living will and trust.

Do I need a lawyer to write a living will?

No. You do not need a lawyer to write a living will. However, if you are suffering from mental illness or another condition that causes confusion, writing your living will can be made more complicated by this. In that case, a lawyer can help you.

What is a living will good for? What do I include in my living will?

The things you want to talk about when you're not able to make decisions for yourself include: Treatment and care you want to receive. Life-sustaining treatment. Organ donation. Who you want to be there for you in the final moment

What is the difference between a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney?

A Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows a person to make decisions for another person when that person is not able to make the decision for themselves. A living will is a similar document that is filled out by a person who is in good health and making a decision for themselves about what happens to them in the event of their death.

What To Consider When Writing a Living Will

Know your goals for writing a living will. The living will document should be based on the goals of the person who it is about. Consider what your loved ones might want to know before they read this in the final moments. This option keeps your family from making the toughest of decisions. 

While you are at it, considering a pre-plan is the next step to giving your family a well rounded end of life game-plan. Call DTE today for a team motivated to listening at each step.