What is a Living Will?
A Living Will is a legal document that expresses your intention not to be kept alive by artificial means, or by heroic measures. This document should be executed only if you feel comfortable making such a declaration. The document generally also contains the appointment of someone to make medical decisions for you if you are unable, commonly referred to as a health care power of attorney. What is a Revocable Living Trust? Do I Need One? The term “living trust” (also known as a “revocable trust” or “inter vivos trust”) is generally used to describe a trust (a) which you can create during your lifetime, and (b) which you can revoke or amend whenever you wish. Much has been written recently regarding the use of living trusts as a solution for a wide variety of problems associated with estate planning through wills. The benefits of living trusts are often greatly overstated, especially in jurisdictions (like Pennsylvania) where the probate of a will is not an expensive or complicated proce
A living will, also known as a Directive to Physicians, allows a person to choose ahead of time whether or not life-sustaining treatments should be provided or continued if the person is physically unable to make a decision and is either in a terminal or irreversible condition. Life-sustaining treatments include: life support, artificial nutrition, antibiotics, etc. Having a living will ensures that you maintain control over your life and death health-care decisions and spares family members from having to make or fight over often impossible choices.
A living will is a written document in which you, as an adult who is now competent, can express your wishes regarding your future health care in the event that you are unable to make health care decisions. You can also include a statement of your preferences and desires regarding medical treatment with your living will, which can provide a useful resource for your treatment providers.
