How do you start talking to family members about creating an estate plan? Estate planning is often a difficult topic to approach, as it brings the unpleasant topics of aging and death to the forefront of our minds. However, creating a proper estate plan can also provide significant peace of mind for your family members by ensuring their life savings are protected, plans are in place in the event they become ill, and their property is passed down according to their wishes.
Here are a few tips to help you start the conversation and important discussion points.
First, be sensitive to your family members’ feelings. Put yourself in their shoes, and keep in mind that few people are eager to dwell on the subject of their own mortality. One way to begin the conversation is to talk first about the need to plan for illness and to provide instructions in the event they become too sick to communicate with doctors or manage their own finances. The conversation can then naturally progress to other estate planning topics.
Communicate that you are not trying to control their decisions, but only want to ensure that their own wishes are known—and that all their instructions are in writing to guarantee they are honored.
Next, involve other family members in the conversation. If you are planning to speak to your parents about the need for an estate plan, it is important to try to include any siblings in the discussion to avoid giving the impression that you are trying to influence or control your parents’ choices.
If you need help having these conversations, feel free to reach out to me at (480) 719-7333.