Living Wills

A will is a document that contains the final wishes of a person. It can be how the person wants to be buried. It can contain custody issues regarding any children or pets. It also discusses the distribution of any assets or property the deceased possessed. The attorney will instruct the person to name an executor for the will. The executor, upon the death of the person, will pay any final bills remaining and then distribute the rest of the assets through the probate system. If there is a dispute, then the judicial system must step in and a probate judge hands down his or her decision, in the probate court, on who gets what.

A living will is a document that a person writes out stating what they wish done for them should they ever find themselves in a serious medical situation. A good example would be a person who was involved in a serious car accident and winds up in a vegetative-state coma. There is little or no brain activity. Would he or she want to be kept alive through the use of machines? If the person did not have a living will, then it falls on a kinsman to make the decision for him or her. It can quickly turn a sweet orange into a bitter lemon.

Religion can influence a decision in living wills. There are some denominations and faiths that believe very adamantly in not taking blood transfusions. For them it is a grievous sin. In a case such as this, they would need to have a living will that stated implicitly, that under no circumstances were they to be given a blood transfer. Another example common seen in the elderly is a DNR, otherwise known as a Do Not Resuscitate order. Simply stated, if they were to stop breathing, then no one would give them CPR.

Okay, so now you know why the fruit analogy was actually quite accurate. Living wills and regular wills are similar but have distinct differences. You need to have both in your life. Both are acting together to keep your best interests in mind should there be an accident or should you pass away. You can have an attorney help you with both a living will and a regular will.