It can sometimes be difficult to bring up estate planning with your own parents. The implication is that they are going to pass away soon, which makes people feel uncomfortable. From your perspective as an adult child, you may also be wary of making your parents think that you just want to get your inheritance as soon as possible.
But having these conversations in advance can be very helpful. It ensures that people do proper estate planning, and conflicts can sometimes be avoided. Here are some tips to help you bring up such a sensitive topic.
Stress that it impacts everyone
To make sure it doesn’t seem like you just want your inheritance, talk about the benefits of estate planning for everyone. If there is no plan, will that cause a lot of stress and confusion for you and your siblings? If your parents need medical help and are incapacitated, would it be beneficial to have a medical power of attorney or a living will to help honor their wishes?
Pick a comfortable and calm environment
You don’t want to bring up estate planning at a time of stress, such as during an argument. Instead, pick a time when everyone is calm and comfortable, and can have an extended conversation about complex topics. This keeps the level of emotion low so that everyone can realistically talk about legal decisions that need to be made.
Do your own estate planning
If you’re looking for a way to start the conversation, one tactic can be to write a will or make an estate plan yourself. Then, when you see your parents, you can tell them what you’ve been working on and ask if they’ve done anything similar. This way, it doesn’t sound like you just want your inheritance from them, but more like you’re making conversation about a topic you’re involved in yourself.
Estate planning can certainly be complex, and it is very important, so those involved must understand all their legal options.
