Are Wills And Living Wills The Same Thing?
by Gweyn Thomas
No – they are actually two very different documents, but both play important roles in your overall estate plan. A will is the legal document that gives direction about what happens to your assets when you die. This is where you bequeath everything from your cherished Air Supply Greatest Hits album to your 200 acre farm. If you have minor children, you can also give direction as to who should become their legal guardian while they are minors.
A living will, also referred to as an advance directive, is a statement of your instructions regarding what medical treatment and procedures should be taken if you are at the end stages of life and cannot communicate on your own behalf. Your wishes regarding the use of life support and feeding tube are addressed, and some living wills also discuss treatment of new conditions, use of CPR, etc. A living will makes your wishes in this regard known, and removes the burden of making those decisions from your loved ones.
A living will, also referred to as an advance directive, is a statement of your instructions regarding what medical treatment and procedures should be taken if you are at the end stages of life and cannot communicate on your own behalf. Your wishes regarding the use of life support and feeding tube are addressed, and some living wills also discuss treatment of new conditions, use of CPR, etc. A living will makes your wishes in this regard known, and removes the burden of making those decisions from your loved ones.
RSS Feed