A living will—also known as an Advance Health Care Directive—is a document in which the declarant or principal (person making the living will) specifies what kind of medical treatment the declarant does and does not want if the declarant has a medical emergency and is unable to communicate those wishes. A living will may direct health care providers to administer, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining treatments if the declarant is in a terminal or irreversible condition.

Laws and terminology for documents related to living wills, Advance Health Care Directives, Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNRs), and other health care documents vary from state to state. These laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the probate code or estates code.

In Nevada, a living will is recognized as an Advance Directive for Health Care. This legal document allows an individual, known as the declarant, to outline their preferences for medical treatment in the event that they are unable to communicate their wishes due to a medical emergency. The document can specify whether the declarant wants to receive, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining treatments if they are in a terminal condition or an irreversible coma. Nevada law provides the framework for creating a valid Advance Directive, which typically includes requirements for the declarant's signature, witness or notary acknowledgments, and specific language that must be included in the document. Nevada's statutes pertaining to living wills and other health care directives can be found in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), specifically within the sections dealing with health care decisions and end-of-life issues. It is important for individuals to ensure that their living will complies with Nevada law to ensure that their health care wishes are honored.