How do I arrange a Dutch living will?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
A Dutch levenstestament records who may act for you during your lifetime and under which instructions. Start with your aims and a discussion with your proposed representative. It requires personal decisions; completing this preparation does not grant anyone authority.
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1. Decide what to arrange
A levenstestament can cover financial, personal and medical matters. It does not distribute your estate: that is the role of a will. Write down your intentions and uncertainties for each area. Arrange this while you can understand the choices and their consequences. A dementia diagnosis does not automatically mean you lack capacity for every decision.
2. Choose a suitable representative
First ask whether the person you have in mind is willing and able to act. Discuss availability, time and your wishes. Different people can have different tasks, and you can discuss a substitute. Record the contact person for each area. Being related does not clarify uncertain powers; have the arrangements checked.
3. Set limits and oversight
Discuss permitted acts, necessary limits and when the authority may be used. Ask what evidence is required. Consider accounts, oversight, major spending, your home and gifts. Record questions instead of assuming consent. A levenstestament does not eliminate every risk of financial abuse.
4. Discuss the deed with a notary
You can write a power of attorney yourself, but a bank need not accept it. The notary assesses your own wishes and decision-making capacity and discusses an appropriate deed. Bring existing documents and questions. Request a quotation and included services beforehand. Arrange language support if you cannot adequately understand the explanation.
5. Make the arrangements usable
Ask which parts your bank, representative and doctor need and who will provide them. Discuss medical wishes separately with your treating doctor. The CLTR records existence and location, not content; registration is optional and arranged through the notary. Keep preparation secure and share only information needed.
6. Keep your instructions current
Review after changes to relationships, health or representatives. Changing the financial representative in a notarial levenstestament requires the notary. Discuss medical changes with your doctor; not every amendment needs a new notarial deed. Notify relevant parties, including the bank, of revocation. Use our help-request route for a legal dispute; a request does not appoint a notary. For complete revocation without replacement, have the notary annotate the deed and arrange cancellation of the CLTR entry, yourself or through the notary. Notify your bank: until it knows about revocation it may rely on the document it holds. Have a new medical representative and changed treatment wishes recorded in your medical file, and discuss them with the representative.
Is a levenstestament the same as a will?
No. It concerns representation and wishes during your lifetime. A will deals with your estate after death. Discuss the two documents separately if you wish to arrange both situations.
Documents to prepare
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Aims for each area and undecided matters
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- Aims for each area and undecided matters
- Proposed representative, willingness and substitute
- Starting conditions, powers, limits and oversight
- Existing deeds, bank requirements and quotation
- Doctor appointment about medical wishes
- Who receives each copy and subsequent changes?
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Need personal assistance? Request a lawyer through our chat. We explain the next step; submitting a request does not engage a lawyer. The links below support the legal information.
KNB · Wat is een levenstestament? ↗KNB · Stappenplan levenstestament ↗KNB · Wilsbekwaamheid ↗KNB · Vertegenwoordiger ↗KNB · Financiële bescherming ↗KNB · Wijzigen en herroepen ↗KNB · Levenstestamentenregister ↗Rijksoverheid · Notaris en tarieven ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.