Does a Will Cover Medical Decisions in Ontario?

No. A will only takes effect after you die. It says nothing about who manages your money or makes your health decisions if you become incapable while alive. That's one of the most common and costly misconceptions in estate planning.

A will is a death document

Your will distributes your assets, names an estate trustee, and can name guardians for minor children — but every one of those powers begins at death. While you're alive, your will does nothing.

What covers incapacity in Ontario

Ontario uses two separate Powers of Attorney under the Substitute Decisions Act:

• Power of Attorney for Property — lets someone you choose manage your finances (banking, bills, investments, property) if you can't.
• Power of Attorney for Personal Care — lets someone make your health, housing, and personal-care decisions, including end-of-life care, if you lose capacity.

Without these, and if you become incapable, your family may have to apply to have a guardian appointed — a slow, expensive court process — and the government's Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee can become involved.

"Living wills" in Ontario

A "living will" or "advance directive" isn't a separate legal document in Ontario — your wishes about treatment are expressed through your Power of Attorney for Personal Care and conversations with your chosen decision-maker. You can record your care preferences, and your attorney for personal care is responsible for honouring them.

The three documents most Ontarians need

1. A will (after death).
2. A Power of Attorney for Property (incapacity — finances).
3. A Power of Attorney for Personal Care (incapacity — health).

Together they cover both scenarios — incapacity and death. A will alone leaves a dangerous gap.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a will and a power of attorney in Ontario? A will works after death; a power of attorney works while you're alive but incapable. Do I need a living will in Ontario? Ontario doesn't have a standalone "living will" — your care wishes are handled through a Power of Attorney for Personal Care. Who makes medical decisions if I'm incapacitated in Ontario? Your attorney for personal care; without one, a substitute decision-maker under provincial rules, or a court-appointed guardian. What documents do I need besides a will in Ontario? A Power of Attorney for Property and a Power of Attorney for Personal Care.

Not legal advice. General information about Ontario law as of 2026. Confirm specifics with an Ontario estate lawyer.