What is the law around “living wills”?
What is a “living will”? In Alberta, the legal term is a personal directive. It is a legal document, and you must be at least 18 to make one in Alberta. A personal directive lets you choose another person to be your agent. Your agent acts on your behalf and makes decisions for you at a time when you are unable to do so. Your personal directive has your written instructions on non-financial decisions regarding your future. In this way, you remain in control of important future matters, such as health care and where you live. A personal directive lets your family and others know your wishes are and what to do if you can no longer make decisions for yourself. What if I do not make a personal directive? If you lose capacity to make your own decisions and do not have a personal directive, then the court may appoint a guardian. In that case, the guardian will handle your non-financial matters. In Alberta, no one, not even a spouse or close relative, can make non-financial decisions for you,
