{"id":287005,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:20","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/estate\/living-will\/living-will-basics.html"},"modified":"2025-09-02T10:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T15:30:00","slug":"living-will-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/living-will\/living-will-basics.html","title":{"rendered":"Living Will Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Living Will Basics<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aisha Success, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A living will is an advance directive that outlines your preferences for medical care if you become unable to communicate due to a terminal condition. It specifies whether you want life support, palliative care, nutrition, hydration, organ donation, and addresses religious or philosophical preferences. Living wills ensure your healthcare wishes are honored, provide guidance to medical providers, and reduce family conflict.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Advance health care directives,<\/a>\u00a0including living wills, are legal documents that dictate how you want to receive medical care if you become incapacitated. A living will is a type of advance directive<\/a>\u00a0that dictates your end-of-life care. This article provides a basic overview of living wills.<\/p>\n

Clarifying Mixed Terminology<\/h2>\n

As is well-known, a will is a legal document. Used in estate planning, a will outlines a person’s instructions on distributing their property when they die. But “living will” is a bit of a misnomer.<\/p>\n

A living will is an advance directive. It describes how someone should be cared for if unable to communicate while alive (hence, “living”).<\/p>\n

Living wills are known by several other names that vary from state to state, including:<\/p>\n