Even if you’ve written or typed up a letter stating which loved ones get what assets, you haven’t fleshed out your estate plan. If you don’t yet have a living will, you could be leaving plenty of room for subjective decisions about your end-of-life care. Luckily, with the help of an estate planning attorney, it’s easy to draft this legal document and regard the future with peace of mind. Use the following guide to learn more about living wills and what yours should look like.

What Is a Living Will?

While a last will and testament lays out posthumous plans for your real estate, savings, and prized possessions, it doesn’t do much to take care of you before your passing. A living will is a legal document that defines plans for your end-of-life care, including your medical treatment.

This way, if you’re unconscious or incapacitated, your loved ones won’t have to worry or argue about what steps the doctor should take, or what hospital you should be in. 

What Should You Include in Yours? 

Before drafting your living will, think carefully about how you would want to be looked after if you couldn’t speak or otherwise communicate with doctors and loved ones.

For example, some people have strict opinions about whether they want to be resuscitated if their heart stops, or whether they want to be kept on life support if they can’t breathe on their own. If you have a preference, you can ensure it becomes a reality by putting it in your living will. 

Make sure to include your opinions on intubation and feeding tubes, as well as particular procedures or surgeries you wouldn’t want performed.

If you ever become eligible for hospice, you can state whether or not you’d like to receive this type of palliative care. You can also use this document to express your preference for organ donation or scientific testing on your body after death.

When you are ready to create a living will, reach out to Lonneman & Associates, PLLC of Elizabethtown, KY. These estate planning attorneys will be happy to help you add this crucial document to your legal portfolio. With nearly 40 years of experience, you can rely on this trusted firm to offer compassionate, confidential guidance for life’s big decisions. Learn more about their services online or call (270) 765-2190 to request a free consultation with an estate planning attorney.