Orlando, Florida, attorney L. Reed Bloodworth is the Founder and CEO of Bloodworth Law, with offices in Winter Haven, Florida.

Bloodworth Law provides Florida families and individuals with estate planning services.

Estate planning is the act of creating legal documents and plans outlining for Florida courts and your heirs exactly what you want to have happen to your children, your assets, and your estate after you die or become incapacitated.

What is a Living Will?

One of those documents is a living will. What is a living will? A living will is one type of Florida advance health care directive. This is not a will, which provides instructions for the distribution of property after your death. A living will is effective during your lifetime and shares health care you want, or don’t want, if you’re unable to talk, are incapacitated, or unconscious.

Living Will = Advance Care Directive

The purpose of a living will is to ensure that your wishes with regard to your medical care are carried out, even if you cannot speak for yourself.

What Are Your Medical Care Wishes?

A living will is a written document stating which medical procedures you would want, that you would want withheld, or that you would want withdrawn at the end of your life, or in a medical emergency.

Without it, there may be challenges for you or your loved ones if you become seriously ill, injured, or are in an accident. Critical health care decisions must be made when a person is incapacitated, has dementia, or whose cognition is affected by a physical illness and is unable to state their wishes.

No Living Will? Your Decisions Aren’t Included

A living will is one of many documents included in an estate plan. By having an attorney handle your estate planning while you’re healthy, you’re able to set up all the legal documents and financial plans needed to protect you, your children, your family, and your lifestyle.

Estate Planning Creates Necessary Legal Documents

Estate planning puts all of your legal and financial documents together with specific advance instructions and plans for the best and sometimes the worst circumstances.

To begin your estate planning, talk to Reed about how Bloodworth Law can help you and your family.