What is the difference between a living will and a healthcare surrogate in Kentucky?

A living will directive states your treatment preferences for specific situations. A healthcare surrogate names a person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you cannot. The proxy can handle unexpected situations that a written directive cannot anticipate.

Can I change my advance directive?

Yes. You can revoke or update your advance directive at any time while you have capacity. Notify your healthcare providers and healthcare surrogate of any changes and provide updated copies.

Does my advance directive need to be notarized?

Kentucky has specific witness and notarization requirements [§ 311.621]. Check the statutory form requirements or have an attorney prepare the document to ensure it is valid.

Will my Kentucky advance directive be honored in another state?

Most states honor out-of-state advance directives, but there is no guarantee. If you spend significant time in another state, consider executing a directive that complies with that state's law as well.

What if I don't have an advance directive?

Without an advance directive, medical decisions fall to your next of kin under Kentucky's surrogate decision-making law. This can lead to disagreements, delays, and decisions that may not reflect your wishes. In the worst case, a court may need to appoint a guardian to make medical decisions.

Topic guideUpdated 2026-02-27

Kentucky Advance Directives & Living Wills

Healthcare directives, living wills, and healthcare proxies — making your medical wishes known.

Advance directives let you make your healthcare wishes known before a crisis happens. In Kentucky, the two key documents are a living will directive §311.621 and a healthcare surrogate §311.625.

Living Will Directive vs. Healthcare Surrogate

	Living Will Directive	Healthcare Surrogate
What It Does	States your treatment preferences (life support, resuscitation, feeding tubes) §311.621	Names a person to make medical decisions for you §311.625
When It Activates	When you cannot communicate your wishes	When you cannot make medical decisions
Who Acts	No one — the document speaks for you	Your chosen agent
Flexibility	Limited — covers only situations you anticipated	High — your agent can respond to unexpected situations
Recommended	Yes	Yes — most important of the two

💡Most estate planning attorneys recommend having both. The living will directive provides clear guidance for common end-of-life scenarios, while the healthcare surrogate gives your agent authority to handle situations you could not have predicted.

What a living will directive covers §311.621

A living will directive addresses:

Life-sustaining treatment (ventilators, dialysis)
Artificial nutrition and hydration (feeding tubes)
Resuscitation preferences (DNR orders)
Pain management and comfort care
Organ and tissue donation

Choosing a healthcare surrogate §311.625

Your healthcare surrogate should be someone who:

Understands your values and treatment preferences
Can make difficult decisions under pressure
Is willing and able to advocate for your wishes, even against family pressure
Lives nearby or can be reached quickly in an emergency

Name a successor agent in case your first choice is unavailable.

Kentucky law

Kentucky recognizes living will directives and healthcare surrogates under KRS § 311.621 et seq. The directive must be signed and witnessed by two adults. A healthcare surrogate may be designated to make medical decisions.

✓Make sure your doctors, your healthcare surrogate, and your family all have copies of your advance directives. A document locked in a safe deposit box cannot help you in an emergency. Many hospitals also allow you to upload directives to their patient portal.

Prepare for Your Consultation

Quick checklist (Estate Planning)

You can start the intake without all of these.

Existing will or trust

(if any)

Asset summary

(property, accounts, policies)

Family information

(beneficiaries, guardians)

General preparation tips only. Requirements vary by case and state.

No Obligation

Ready to Talk to a Lawyer?

Submit a short intake form and a participating Kentucky attorney who handles this type of matter may reach out to you. No commitment required.

Request a Free Consultation →

No attorney-client relationship is created unless you later sign an engagement agreement. Participating attorneys may pay a marketing fee to receive inquiries.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

General answers to common questions. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and timing.

If you have a deadline, court notice, or upcoming hearing, mention it when requesting assistance so timing can be evaluated promptly.

Read →

Kentucky Power of Attorney — Types & How to Create