In a will, living will or written advance directive, you record your wishes and who is allowed to make decisions for you if you are no longer able to do so yourself. Below are the differences.

In the will, you describe what should happen after your death and you set out how you want your inheritance to be divided. To draw up and record a will, you have to go to a notary.

In a living will, you record matters that are important while you are still alive. This primarily concerns financial matters, such as the management of your money, your investments and your bank accounts.

A living will often consists of two powers of attorney: one for financial interests and one for medical and personal matters. You record all the matters you want to have arranged in one deed.

You can also mention personal matters, such as who will take care of your pet if you are no longer able to do so yourself. You can have a living will drawn up at the notary.

In a living will, you do not record any wishes with regard to, for example, euthanasia. You should submit these wishes to your doctor.

In a written advance directive, you can write what needs to be done in the medical field on the way to the end of your life. After signing, it is important that you regularly discuss the statement with your loved ones and your doctor, so that they also know what your wishes are. You don't have to go to the notary for this.

There are three things you can include in your advance directive:

1. Euthanasia: you can record that you want euthanasia if you are suffering unbearably.
2. Treatment ban: in this you indicate that you would rather die than receive treatment, e.g. because your quality of life does not improve as a result of the treatment.
3. Power of attorney: in this you indicate who can represent you if you are no longer able to make medical decisions yourself. The proxy cannot ask for euthanasia, you can only do that yourself.