Living Wills & Advance Directives in St. Louis

70+ Years of Combined Experience Helping St. Louis Families Plan Ahead

A living will tells your doctors what medical treatment you want or don’t want if you can no longer speak for yourself. In Missouri, this document and the durable power of attorney for health care together form your advance directive, and both belong in any complete estate plan. At Gilkerson Bowman, attorneys Edward Gilkerson and Kirk Bowman bring more than 70 years of combined estate planning experience to helping St. Louis area families put these protections in place.

Your health care wishes deserve the same careful attention as your financial legacy. Call (314) 866-7781 to schedule a free consultation with our team.

Two Documents, One Plan

Missouri uses “advance directive” as the umbrella term for the documents that govern your medical care when you can’t communicate. The living will (called a declaration under Missouri law) sets out your written instructions for end-of-life treatment. The durable power of attorney for health care, governed by Sections 404.800 to 404.865 RSMo, names a health care agent, a trusted person authorized to make broader medical decisions on your behalf.

These two documents work together. The living will states your wishes directly; the health care power of attorney gives your chosen agent the authority to interpret and carry out those wishes in situations your written instructions may not anticipate. Most families need both.

Missouri’s Execution Requirements

As a general matter under Chapter 459 RSMo, a Missouri living will must be in writing, signed and dated by you, and if it’s not entirely in your own handwriting, signed in front of two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. The durable power of attorney for health care carries its own distinct signing and witnessing formalities under Sections 404.800 to 404.865 RSMo. Because the requirements differ between the two documents, working with an attorney rather than a fill-in form matters.

Without a valid advance directive, a family that needs to make medical decisions for an incapacitated loved one may have no option other than petitioning the probate division of the circuit court for guardianship or conservatorship under Chapter 475 RSMo. That process takes time and money that a properly drafted document can help avoid.

When a Missouri Living Will Takes Effect

A Missouri living will declaration doesn’t become operative the moment you sign it. Under Section 459.025 RSMo (general legal information, not a guarantee of outcome), it becomes effective only when your attending physician determines you have a terminal condition and can no longer participate in treatment decisions. That moment is unpredictable. It might come decades from now, or it might come sooner than anyone expects.

Missouri law also allows you to revoke a living will at any time, in any manner by which you can communicate your intent, regardless of physical or mental condition. That flexibility matters because life changes. Our bi-annual check-ins are designed for exactly this reason. Every six months, or whenever your circumstances shift, we revisit your documents with you to confirm they still reflect what you actually want. Your estate plan fee also covers all updates for three years, so revising your advance directive comes at no additional charge when your wishes or relationships change.

Why St. Louis Families Choose Gilkerson Bowman

We’re a boutique firm. We don’t hand files to junior associates or process documents at volume. Clients in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Ballwin get direct access to experienced attorneys, transparent pricing, and flexible payment options designed for middle-class families rather than high-net-worth clients.

What that looks like in practice:

• Free bi-annual check-ins: We schedule recurring reviews so your advance directive doesn’t sit in a drawer unexamined for years.
• Three-year update coverage: Your legal fee includes all plan updates for three years at no additional charge.
• Virtual consultations: Complete your planning from home without traveling to an office.
• Multi-state licensing: We’re licensed in Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee, so families with property or relatives across state lines can keep their documents cohesive.

Start or Update Your Advance Directive

Whether you’re creating a living will for the first time or updating one that no longer reflects your wishes, Gilkerson Bowman offers a free consultation to walk through your options. Virtual appointments are available for clients throughout St. Louis and St. Louis County, including Ballwin, who prefer not to travel.

Call (314) 866-7781 to schedule your free consultation with Gilkerson Bowman.