Please note: this article is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and country and change over time. For anything you need to be legally binding, speak with a licensed attorney where you live.
People who want to record a wish about future revival, whether yes, no, or only under certain conditions, quickly run into a practical question: which document should it go in? The honest answer is that no standard legal form was designed for this question. But several common documents touch on it, and understanding what each one does helps you put your wishes where they will actually be seen and respected.
1. The will
A will says what happens to your property after you die and names an executor to carry that out. Some things to know:
- It is often read too late. Wills are commonly located and read days or weeks after death, sometimes after the funeral. Instructions about what should happen to your body can be missed if they appear only in your will.
- It mainly covers property. A will is not usually the right tool for medical or body-related decisions, though it can mention your wishes and point to other documents.
- It can fund things. If you want to leave money for a purpose, such as continuing dues to an organization, a will or trust is where that is usually arranged.
Mentioning a separate statement of wishes in your will, along with where it is kept, can help your executor find it.
2. Advance directive or living will
An advance directive (often called a living will) tells doctors what kind of medical care you want if you cannot speak for yourself, for example whether you want life support or tube feeding. Key points:
- It covers care while you are alive. It generally stops applying at death, so it does not govern what happens afterward.
- It can still be helpful. If you have cryonics arrangements, some people mention them so hospital staff know whom to contact. Whether a hospital can accommodate such requests varies.
3. Health care power of attorney
This names a person (an agent or proxy) to make medical decisions for you if you cannot. Like an advance directive, the agent's authority usually ends at death. Choosing an agent who knows and respects your wishes about end-of-life care is still valuable, because what happens in the final hours can affect what is possible afterward.
4. Who controls your remains
Many US states let you name a person who will have the right to make decisions about your body after death, such as burial, cremation or donation. This may be called a funeral agent, a designated agent for disposition, or something similar, and the form and rules depend on the state. If you do not name anyone, state law usually gives that right to next of kin in a set order.
For someone with strong feelings about revival, this can matter a great deal. The person who controls your remains is the person whose cooperation is needed, whether you want cryonic preservation or want to be sure it never happens.
5. Anatomical gift documents
In the United States, laws based on the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act govern donations of the body or organs for transplant, research or education. Cryonics organizations have historically used anatomical-donation paperwork as part of their arrangements. If you are considering cryonics, the provider will explain which documents it needs; if you are an organ donor, be aware that donation and cryonics can conflict, and decide which matters more to you.
6. Letter of instruction
A letter of instruction is an informal document addressed to your family or executor. It is usually not legally binding, but it is flexible and very practical: where your papers are, which accounts you have, who to call, and what you want. This is often the most natural home for a revival wish. It can say exactly what you want, in your own words, and point to any formal arrangements.
7. Digital assets
Many US states have adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which lets you give a representative access to online accounts. Big platforms also have their own tools. If your statement of wishes, photos, or recorded messages live online, see our digital legacy guide.
Where does a revival wish fit?
Putting it together, a sensible approach many people consider is:
- Write a short statement of wishes (yes, no or not sure, plus conditions). See how to leave instructions for future revival.
- Refer to it in a letter of instruction and, if you have one, in your will.
- Make sure the person who will control your remains knows about it and agrees to respect it.
- If you want cryonics, complete the provider's contracts and funding with professional advice (see how much does cryonics cost).
- Keep copies where family can find them quickly.
What nobody can promise
No document can force a future society, scientist or company to revive you, or guarantee that a wish against revival will be honored centuries from now. What documents can do is make your answer clear, dated, signed, and findable, which is the best anyone can do today. That clarity is also a gift to your family, who will not have to guess.
A registry such as Revival Registry is one way to keep a dated record of your answer alongside your other papers. It is a record of personal wishes, not a will, advance directive or medical order, and it does not replace advice from an attorney.