{"id":374507,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:46","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-living-wills-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-07-15T16:06:09","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T21:06:09","slug":"missouri-living-wills-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-living-wills-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Missouri Living Wills Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Missouri Living Wills Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n

Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

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
\n

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

Health care directives, commonly referred to as "living wills<\/a>," are not actually wills but legally binding documents that list the principal’s medical and end-of-life preferences should they become unable to communicate. Living wills differ from durable powers of attorney in that they don’t necessarily designate a caretaker. However, an individual with the power of attorney (for health care) is obligated to follow the wishes listed in the principal’s living will.<\/p>\r\n

Under Missouri living will laws, the legal requirements include the following:<\/p>\r\n