When Should You Revise Your Living Will?

Make a habit of reviewing your Living Will on a regular basis. Living Wills may be readily changed to reflect changes in your health, finances, or attitude toward end-of-life care. Even if your preferences do not alter, a Living Will should be revised on a regular basis to reflect advances in medical technology.

Consider revising your Living Will as necessary:

Change or restrict your medical treatment to fit your financial situation.
Respond to medical technology advancements
Respond to a change in health-care legislation
Respond to changes in your health, such as a downturn, terminal diagnosis, surgery and hospitalization, or pregnancy.
Make a separate individual responsible for making health-care choices for you.
Transfer to a new state
Respond to changes in your ideas and preferences around end-of-life care.
Respond to a loved one’s or significant other’s death

Remember that new papers normally override old ones; for example, executing a new Living Will has the effect of canceling an earlier Living Will.