A will is not only about distributing your assets but also about your wishes before you die such as in the case of a Living will.
Matters such as a wish to be buried or cremated and organ donation are often thought about. But few people think about having a living will.
A “Living Will” is also known as “Will to Live”
A living Will is the wish that if an individual is declared brain dead and there is no hope of recovery other than to be supported by life support machines. Then the person with a living will requests to have the life support switched off.
It is important to know that in SA a living WILL is not legally enforceable by law. A living will is only a statement of a wish. The wish is intended to ease the burden of their loved ones to make the decision to turn off life support. And obviously this lightens the feeling of guilt in a loved one making such a decision.
So, if your wish is not to be kept alive on life support if there was no hope for you and you wish to ease the burden of your loved ones having to make that decisions then make sure you have a living will.
