I have had quite a few questions lately on the difference between a living will and a living trust, so I thought it about time to review these important subjects. Both wills are legal documents, but one has to do with your health, and the other with your finances. A living will provides that someone must decide exactly when death is permitted to occur. This is never a question of euthanasia. It is a question about avoiding artificial, extraordinary means of prolonging life at tremendous emotional and financial cost to the family.

A living will, not to be confused with a last will and testament, permits you to make known your decision on life-prolonging procedures before the problem arises. Having your wishes expressed through a living will can avoid the extraordinary costs of futile, and perhaps painful, treatments if you are terminally ill and cannot communicate your desires.

A living will can allow death with dignity. In addition to having a living will, you can avoid further problems by giving an agent, usually a spouse or family member, a "durable power of attorney" to make critical decisions when you cannot.

For even stronger protection, you can execute a "healthcare proxy" that authorizes a trusted individual to issue an order ending life-support treatment. Unless you put limitations on it, a healthcare proxy is more flexible than a living will and allows you to include specific instructions to your "agent" regarding all methods of medical treatment.

The living trust also allows you to make provisions during your lifetime for what will happen at the end of your life. It provides for ways to avoid unnecessary estate taxes, probate delays and expense, and family problems after your death as your assets are passed to others.

Just as a living will allows you to make your healthcare wishes known, a living trust can allow you to make your financial wishes known. Of course, a "last will and testament" can accomplish the same financial objectives, but a living trust avoids probate.

Remember, a living trust is just what its name implies, a trust you establish while you are living. It can be an effective way to maintain control of property during your lifetime, and a private way to dispose of it after your death. Living trusts ran be "revocable" or "irrevocable," and there are unique characteristics to each. Consider them carefully before proceeding.

If you have any concerns about living wills and living trusts, contact me or Bro. Earl Ihle (see below), and we will offer some pros and cons to help you in this matter. Which leaves my "ad" for this month to read:

You can only know a little about everything,
But everything can be shared with friends.

Ill. Thomas M. Boles, 33°, G.C. (left in photo) has worked extensively in fund-raising for children’s programs throughout our Fraternity. For more information on planned giving, see coupon previous page or call Bro. Tom at 562–691–4227 (Fax 562–691–5327) or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, at 202–232–3579, ext. 143.  Ill. Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, is our development team’s Director of Major Gifts. He has been a member of the Fraternity for 25 years and served in 1978 as Master of Lafayette Lodge, No. 111, Baltimore, Maryland. He is also a member of Boumi Shrine Temple in Baltimore, the York Rite, and a dual member of the Scottish Rite Valleys of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. You can reach Bro. Ihle toll free at 1–800–486–3331.