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Michigan Estate Planning Attorney

Make Your Medical Wishes Known with a Living Will

A Living Will—also known as an Advance Directive—protects your voice when you can’t speak for yourself. Clarify your healthcare preferences now, so your family isn’t left guessing later.

Elderly woman with adult daughter

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Clarity. Dignity. Peace of Mind.

What Is a Living Will?

A Living Will is a legal document that outlines your medical treatment preferences if you're ever unable to communicate them yourself.

It ensures your family and doctors know what you want when facing critical medical decisions—like life support, resuscitation, and end-of-life care. It’s a vital act of love and clarity.

Medical Clarity
:
Ensure your treatment preferences are known and respected.
Prevent Family Disputes
:
Relieve loved ones from making painful medical decisions in the dark.
Peace of Mind
:
Know that your wishes will be followed, even in a crisis.
Dignity at Every Stage
:
Make decisions based on your values—not in the heat of the moment.
Nurse looking after elderly patient in care home

Comparison

Living Will vs. Last Will and Testament

Understanding the difference between a Living Will and a Last Will and Testament is key to ensuring your wishes are honored in life and after.

Purpose

Living Will: Directs medical care if you’re incapacitated

Last Will and Testament: Distributes your assets after death

When It Takes Effect

Living Will: While you’re still alive but unable to communicate

Last Will and Testament: Only after you pass away

Covers

Living Will: Medical treatments, life support, and end-of-life care

Last Will and Testament: Assets, guardianship, and executor instructions

Avoids Probate?

Living Will: Not applicable (medical decisions only)

Last Will and Testament: ❌ No — must go through probate court

Part of an Estate Plan?

Living Will: ✅ Yes

Last Will and Testament: ✅ Yes

Do You Need Both?

Living Will: ✅ Yes — to protect healthcare wishes

Last Will and Testament: ✅ Yes — to protect your legacy

Our Process for Creating a Living Will

We make the process simple, thoughtful, and personalized—because your wishes deserve to be honored with care.

Step 1: Discovery Call

  • We’ll learn about your family, your goals, and what matters most to you.

Step 2: Custom Planning Session

  • We guide you through the key decisions and begin drafting your plan.

Step 3: Review & Sign

  • We review everything together and help you execute your documents properly.

Book Initial Consultation: 248-792-9193

Living Will as part of estate planning documents

Part of a Bigger Picture

How a Living Will Fits Into a Complete Estate Plan

A Living Will is one essential piece of your full estate plan. We help you combine it with tools like Powers of Attorney, Trusts, and Guardianship Designations to create a plan that protects every chapter of life.

Revocable Living Trust
:
Avoid probate for all assets while maintaining control during your lifetime.
Power of Attorney
:
Authorize a trusted person to manage finances or medical decisions if needed.
Living Will
:
Clarify your wishes for medical treatment if you become incapacitated.
Guardianship Designations
:
Make sure the right people are legally empowered to care for your dependents.

Estate Planning Guide

Estate Planning is an essential process that will protect your assets and ensure you’re your estate is distributed according to your wishes after your death.

Many people make mistakes when creating their estate plan, which can lead to unnecessary stress, confusion, and costly legal battles for their loved ones. Below, our estate planning team put together the top 10 and most common mistakes we see in estate planning.

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Screenshot of Top 10 Estate Planning Mistakes

Common Questions About Living Wills

Book Initial Consultation: 248-792-9193

Meet Your Leadership Team

Whether you need a will, trust, asset protection plan or are in need of medicaid crisis planning, our team is here to help! We are dedicated to providing you with the best legal representation possible. Call us today to book your consultation.

Meet the Whole Team

Request a Consultation

With offices in Rochester and Bloomfield Hills, we’re proud to serve families throughout Michigan. Prefer virtual? We offer video consultations for estate planning, so you can plan from the comfort of home.

Please fill in the form and one of our customer service representatives will be in touch first thing on the next business day.

If you'd rather book a discovery call so you know exactly when to expect a call from our customer success agents, you're welcome to click the link below and find a time that works best for you.

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“Their whole team was amazing to work with! The attorneys were very knowledgeable and made it easy to understand. We chose virtual planning process option because it was so much more convenient with my work schedule but they offered to meet in person too of we didn't do zoom. Highly Recommended!”

Whitney Ollila