A Necessary Move

What to know about a living will


A living will isn’t exactly the type of thing that’s fun to think about, but you should. It could be critical to saving your loved ones a lot of headaches and hardships. Here are some things to know about a living will that could come in handy.

What It Is

A living will communicates your wishes about medical treatments — including whether or not you’d want life support — should you be unable to express them yourself. A living will is different from a last will and testament in that the latter focuses on assets. Yes, it’s probably a good idea to have both.

How To Get One

You’ll want to consult an attorney before crafting your living will. It might be tempting to just use a template off the internet, but think twice before doing so. If the document isn’t tailored specifically to you, it could end up doing more harm than good.

What It Costs

As US News reports, while pricing varies, a living will can usually be created for a few hundred dollars. If you want to package the living will with a more comprehensive estate plan — including a last will — you’ll be spending about $2,000.

What Should be Included

A living will can be vague or detailed, it all depends on you. If you have certain religious beliefs, be sure to spell those out in the document. What is included in the will is all up to you. That’s why using a professional can be helpful — they will help you create a plan that works best for your needs.

Chris O'Shea

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