Estate planning can be a hard conversation to have not only with themselves but also with their parents. For many people, it reminds them of their mortality and about realities they don’t want to face about aging. As touchy as the topic may be though, the conversation needs to be started so that if anything happens to your parents that their assets are protected and wishes are carried out.
4 steps to take when talking to your parents about estate planning are:
- Set a time. The first step to showing empathy towards the nature of this conversation is to recognize that their needs to be a separate, set time to speak about it instead of just throwing it on them out of the blue.
- Keep the focus on your parents. Make it clear that this conversation on estate planning is happening to benefit them. It can be easy to be defensive, so tell them, “This conversation is to understand your wishes and priorities.”
- Tread Carefully. Even though this is their estate, the conversation needs to be more than money and assets. Ask them about their values when it comes to end of life decisions and make sure they understand the necessity of having a Health Care Power of Attorney.
- Be Encouraging. This is a hard conversation regardless of whether they have already made decisions on the topic or not. Regardless of the decisions they express, it is necessary to be supportive of how they distribute their estate.
We at Thornton Law Firm understand the difficulty that comes with this conversation, but most importantly, we understand the difficulties that arise later if these conversations are not had. There is not much to do when the state takes over and decides how their assets are distributed. If you need help starting the conversation with your parents or need help regarding the complexities of their estate, schedule an appointment with Thornton Law and we will come ensure that their wishes are carried out.