A living will is a written declaration of what medical treatment you do or do not want if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and cannot speak for yourself. It answers, in advance, the questions that otherwise fall on a grieving family at the worst possible moment.
This template covers the decisions that matter most: life support, feeding tubes, CPR, comfort care, and organ donation, each stated as a clear directive to your providers. Download it in Word and PDF, then sign it with the witnesses your state requires.
What a living will covers, and when it applies
A living will only speaks when two things are true at the same time: you cannot make or communicate decisions, and physicians have certified a qualifying condition, typically a terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. Until then, it has no effect and you make all your own decisions. Within its scope, it directs providers on life-sustaining treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration, resuscitation, and comfort care. It does not name a decision maker: that is the job of a medical power of attorney.
Why feeding tubes get their own question
In many states, artificial nutrition and hydration are legally distinct from other life-sustaining treatment: a general refusal of life support does not always reach a feeding tube unless the document says so expressly. High-profile court battles have turned on exactly this gap. This template asks the question separately so your declaration cannot be misread either way.
A living will is not a DNR order
Emergency responders outside a hospital follow physician-signed portable orders (DNR or POLST), not living wills. If you do not want resuscitation attempted at home, ask your physician about your state's portable order in addition to this declaration.
Making sure your living will is actually followed
- Sign it correctly: most states require two disinterested adult witnesses; several accept or add a notary. Follow your state's rule exactly.
- Distribute it: give copies to your physician, your hospital, your family, and your health care agent. A living will locked in a drawer protects no one.
- Pair it with an agent: a medical power of attorney covers the situations your living will does not anticipate.
- Revisit it: review after every major diagnosis, decade of life, or family change, and re-sign if your wishes evolve.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a living will and a last will?
A living will governs your medical care while you are alive but unable to decide; a last will and testament distributes your property after death. The names are similar, the documents are unrelated, and most adults need both.
Does a living will need witnesses or a notary?
Almost every state requires two adult witnesses, generally excluding your health care providers and anyone who inherits from you. Some states accept a notary instead of witnesses, and a few expect both. Check your state's rule before signing.
Can I change my mind after signing a living will?
Yes, at any time and in any manner: destroying the document, signing a new one, or simply telling your physician. Revocation is effective regardless of your physical condition, and providers must honor it.
Will emergency responders follow my living will?
Usually not in the field: EMS teams follow portable medical orders such as DNR or POLST forms signed by a physician. Your living will guides hospital care once physicians certify your condition. Ask your doctor about a portable order if out-of-hospital wishes matter to you.
Do I still need a living will if I have a medical power of attorney?
The two work together. The living will records your actual wishes; the medical power of attorney names who applies them and handles everything the living will does not cover. Having both gives your agent clear instructions and legal backing.