Over the past year, a record number of Danes have decided to establish a living will. More than 107,000 citizens have taken the step to ensure that their personal and financial affairs will be handled according to their wishes if they become unable to make decisions themselves. This number surprises the Registration Court, which did not expect such a significant increase. The living will, introduced in 2017, allows individuals to appoint one or more persons to represent their interests if they were to be affected by conditions such as dementia or other issues that may impact their mental capacity. This legal tool serves as an alternative to the more restrictive public guardianship.
Brian Pedersen Veie, secretariat manager at the Registration Court, expressed his surprise at the high number of living wills. “We expected an increase, but the number has really exceeded our expectations,” he told DR. This increase in the number of living wills can be seen as a sign that more Danes wish to take control over their future situations, even in cases where they may no longer be able to make decisions themselves. This is a development that can have significant importance for individuals’ security and for families looking to handle future challenges in a respectful and pre-determined manner.