You find it difficult enough to talk about your own estate plan. For this reason, you may not have much desire to dive headfirst into the estate plan that your parents have created.
It may not be your idea of a good time, but there are many benefits of talking to your parents about estate planning. As long as you know how to start the conversation and the approach to take, everything should begin to fall into place.
Here are some reasons why it’s critical to tackle this conversation:
- Peace of mind: You can’t do anything to change your parents’ estate planning strategy, but knowing that they have one in place will give you peace of mind. And if you find that something is missing, you can make suggestions.
- Less stress on your parents: You aren’t the only person stressed out about estate planning. As your parents age, they may also have some concerns. This is even more so the case if they’re dealing with a serious illness or injury, such as dementia. Anything you can do to lessen the burden of estate planning is something you should consider.
- Keeps everyone on the same page: You don’t want there to be any gray area in regard to your parents’ estate plan, as this can cause disagreements and arguments upon their death.
How to start the discussion
Sometimes, the most difficult part of discussing estate planning with your parents is kicking off the conversation. Here are a few things you can do to help your cause:
- Choose the right time and place, as a comfortable environment puts everyone at ease
- Don’t push too hard, as you don’t want to give your parents reason to believe that you’re only thinking about what’s best for you
- Let others partake in the conversation, such as siblings
Whether you talk to your parents about estate planning is your decision. If you’re ready to take the first step, plan out the process and move forward in a calm and cautious manner.
When you do your part in helping your parents understand estate planning, including their legal rights in Illinois, all of you will feel better about what the future will bring.
