What is the Difference Between a Living Will and Last Will?

A Scottsdale living will and a Scottsdale last will are two different documents that serve two totally different purposes. Both provide directions when you yourself are not able to communicate, but it is important to know the difference and why having one does not mean that you do not need the other. A Scottsdale living will is for focusing on your health care and health care decisions while you are still living and a Scottsdale last will is for after you have died.

A living will is used for when you are in a comma or vegetative state and cannot communicate with others, your health care decisions. In your living will, you can name someone who you would like to have make decisions about your health on your behalf. Some of the medical decisions that may come up could be whether or not you would want a feeding tube if you could no longer feed yourself, do you want the assistance of a ventilator if you cannot breathe on your own, and if you want CPR performed or if you wish to have a DNR (do not resuscitate).

A last will also known as a last will and testament is a document that has nothing to do with your health care and health care decisions to be made, instead is deals with your assets and estate. This document will outline a name or names of beneficiaries that you would like your property to go to. For example, you can include in the last will that you would like all of your money to be donated to charity or split between your children or grandchildren. You can get very specific as to who you want to receive what, as well as set specific ages on when and how much money the beneficiary will receive at a certain age.

It is very important to know the differences between these two documents and to know that both are very important to have. Knowing where your property and to whom your property will be disbursed to, as well as knowing who will be making your health care decisions if need be, will take a lot of stress off of your shoulders. Having both a Scottsdale living will and Scottsdale last will, will also help make a difficult time, less stressful for everyone involved, letting them focus more on you and your well being rather than your property and guessing what it is you want performed healthcare wise.

Need Help?

If you are not sure as to what legal document you currently have contact one of our professionals to help you with your planning needs. They will make sure you have all of your grounds covered and have the right legal documents that best suite your wants and needs.