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Escríbenos ahoraHealth Care Surrogate vs. Living Will in Florida: What’s the Difference?
Un Health Care Surrogate Designation lets you appoint someone to make medical decisions for you, while a Living Will documents your wishes about life-prolonging procedures under specific medical circumstances.
Both are important Florida advance directives that serve different purposes and can work together as part of your estate plan.
Health Care Surrogate vs. Living Will: Comparison Chart.
The chart below highlights the key differences between these two documents, including their purpose, when they take effect, and their limitations.
Swipe horizontally to view the full comparison.
| Comparison | Health Care Surrogate Designation | Testamento en vida (Living Will): |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Appoints someone to make health care decisions on your behalf. |
Documents your wishes about life-prolonging procedures in specific medical circumstances. |
| Best Suited For | Choosing a trusted person to make medical decisions if you cannot make them yourself. |
Expressing your wishes about end-of-life medical treatment. |
| What It Covers | Medical decisions and health information, as authorized in the document. |
Providing, withholding, or withdrawing life-prolonging procedures. |
| When Does It Take Effect? | Upon incapacity, unless otherwise specified. | Upon incapacity, unless otherwise specified. |
| Can It Be Modified or Revoked? | Yes | Yes |
| Typical Planning Scenarios | Serious illness, medical emergencies, or incapacity that affects health care decision-making. |
Terminal illness, an end-stage condition, or a persistent vegetative state. |
| Potential Limitations | Does not authorize financial decisions or death. |
Limited to specific end-of-life circumstances. |
| Can It Be Combined With Other Estate Planning Tools? |
Yes. It can complement a Living Will and other advance directives. |
Yes. It can complement a Health Care Surrogate Designation. |
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