what is the difference between a will and a living will?

Answer 1

A living will is an advance health care proxy.

A living will usually covers specific directives as to the course of treatment that is to be taken by caregivers, or, in particular, in some cases forbidding treatment and sometimes also food and water, should the principal be unable to give informed consent ("individual health care instruction") due to incapacity.

Usually the living will gives power of attorney to someone to make sure these wishes are fulfilled.

If someone has not made a living will, they can be kept on "heroic care" indefinately--like Terri Shaivo.

A regular will is one that basically distributes the property of the deceased, and has nothing to do with end of life decisions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_will

Answer 2

A Will is where you write down who gets your worldly belongings after you pass away. A Living Will is how you want the Doctor to treat you if you become to sick mentally to make decisions about how you want to be treated as you near death.

Answer 3

A will states what you want to happen to your assets when you die. A living will states whether you want to be kept alive should you become disabled without a reasonable expectation of recovery, like Terry Schiavo.

Answer 4

a living will is instructions to be carried out in the event you are unable to make medical decisions on your own, like a persistant vegetative state

Answer 5

A "will" tells what to do with your money when you die.

A "living will" tells caregivers what life support to give you in the hospital.

Answer 6

a will is for when you are dead, and a living will is for when your are in vegatable state and unresponsive