5 Things Your Michigan Living Will Should Cover

A living will is one of those documents people know they should have but rarely understand in detail. If you live in Michigan and you’re thinking about creating one, here are five areas the document should address clearly so your wishes are honored when it matters.

1. Life-Sustaining Treatment Preferences

This is the heart of the document. Be specific about whether you want — or don’t want — interventions such as mechanical ventilation, CPR, dialysis, and feeding tubes if you’re in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious. “I don’t want to be kept alive by machines” is a starting point, but the more specific you are, the easier it is for your family and your medical team to follow your wishes without second-guessing.

2. Conditions That Trigger the Document

A living will doesn’t apply to every medical situation. It typically activates only when you’re unable to communicate and in a condition your physicians describe as terminal or as a state of permanent unconsciousness. Your document should reference these triggering conditions clearly so there’s no ambiguity about when it takes effect.

3. Pain Management and Comfort Care

Even when you’ve declined aggressive treatment, you can — and should — still specify that you want comfort care: pain medication, hydration for comfort, and other measures that keep you peaceful. Many people who decline life support strongly want to receive comfort care, and saying so explicitly removes any doubt.

4. Nutrition and Hydration Decisions

This is one of the most emotionally charged areas of end-of-life planning. Some people consider artificial nutrition and hydration to be part of basic care. Others consider them medical interventions they’d want withheld in a terminal situation. There’s no right answer — only the answer that’s right for you. Spell it out, because if you don’t, the people who love you will be left to argue about it.

5. Coordination With Your Patient Advocate

In Michigan, a living will works alongside a Patient Advocate Designation, the document that names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. Your living will gives that advocate guidance. Make sure both documents are consistent with each other and that your advocate has a copy and understands your wishes. A well-prepared Michigan living will is part of a coordinated set of documents, not an isolated piece of paper.

A Document Is Only As Good As Its Clarity

The worst living wills are vague ones. “I don’t want extraordinary measures” sounds clear until a doctor and a family member disagree about what counts as extraordinary. Spend time on the specifics. Talk it through with whoever you’re naming as your patient advocate. And consider working with an estate planning attorney who can make sure your document holds up under Michigan law and reflects what you actually want.

The whole point of this document is to take the weight off your family. A vague one puts the weight right back on them.

Author bio

Rochester Law Center is a Michigan estate planning firm based in Rochester, MI. We help families across the state with Michigan living wills, trusts, wills, and probate.