Living wills may bring peace of mind

Then again, knowing that you will be able to control this critical decision -- and, perhaps more important, to spare your loved ones from arguing about it -- is one of the last gifts you can bequeath to your family, estate planners say.

"Most people are reluctant," said Jakki Jones, a financial planner for MetLife's Ambassador Financial Group in Greenbelt, Md. "They don't do it because they don't want to address euthanasia, or the end of life, which is what we're talking about."

Making a living will is not much more complicated than telling your spouse that you would or would not want doctors to prolong your life in such a case, planners say.

The forms are governed by state law and vary slightly in each jurisdiction, so be sure to check the laws in your state before filling one out.

Typically, a living will is called an "advanced medical directive" and is likely to include a "health care proxy," or someone you authorize to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so.

To take care of your living will, first select that person as well as a backup designee, planners advise.

Second, fill out the form for your state. After you designate your health care proxy, the forms typically allow you to check off, or state, what type of medical care you do or do not wish to receive in end-of-life situations -- including being in a persistent vegetative state.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, a national nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Va., provides living-will forms for each state free of charge. (You can request them at www.caringinfo.org.)