It can sometimes be difficult to bring up estate planning with your parents. You naturally want to know if they’ve done their planning so that you know a framework is in place, especially regarding medical decisions and things of this nature. But you also may feel hesitant to bring it up because it can make for an uncomfortable conversation.
If you are worried about this, it’s definitely better to talk to your parents in advance about their estate planning. You just need to know how to do it. Here are a few ideas:
Look for a good transition
Sometimes, all you need is a good segue into the conversation. For instance, maybe you had a family friend who passed away without an estate plan, so you know that your parents saw how complicated and confusing things got for their children. You can use this to bring up your own concerns and make sure your parents have written down their plan to avoid such an eventuality for your family.
Do your own planning
Another option is simply to do estate planning yourself. The more that you learn about it, the more you’ll know to ask your own parents. This is also an easy way to start the conversation because you can ask for advice or tell them what you’ve been working on.
Focus on the positives
Estate planning is certainly a positive event, even though it does make people feel uncomfortable. But there are a lot of benefits to having a plan, such as limiting estate disputes and ensuring that the right heirs get specific assets. When you focus on these benefits, then it’s an easier conversation.
All those who are involved in the estate planning process need to make sure they know exactly what legal steps to take.