What's the difference between a will and a living will?
General Wills
A will and a living will are completely different documents:
Will (Last Will and Testament):
- Takes effect after you die
- States who inherits your estate
- Names executors and guardians
- Distributes your property and possessions
- Cannot be used while you're alive
Living Will (Advance Decision/Advance Directive):
- Takes effect while you're still alive
- States your wishes for medical treatment if you can't communicate
- Usually specifies treatments you don't want (e.g., life support in certain conditions)
- Has nothing to do with your property or estate
- Becomes invalid when you die
You might also hear about:
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA):
- Allows someone to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity
- Covers health/welfare decisions or property/financial decisions
- Must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian
- Different from both a will and a living will
Most people need a regular will. Some people also choose to make a living will or LPA, but these are separate documents with different purposes.