Let's Talk About Death & Estate Planning
Let’s Talk About Death & Estate Planning!
The topic of death and estate planning is never an easy conversation to initiate; however, it’s such an important conversation to be had. Whether your loved ones have tried to talk to you about their end-of-life wishes and you are unsure how to respond, or perhaps you feel that they should be talking to you about their wishes, but they seem reluctant - it can feel awkward and overwhelming to try to steer the conversation on the right path. Let’s look at some ways you can start the end-of-life conversation and turn the uncomfortable topic into something productive.
Don’t Avoid the Topic
Saying nothing is not a good idea! There will always be a million reasons not to talk about this, but having the conversations grants both parties peace of mind. Have you ever had a task that you dreaded doing but felt great after accomplishing? This is the exact same, and it’s best to face it head-on to avoid complications and confusion down the road when you are unsure of what they would have wanted.
Be Sensitive
The topic of death is extremely difficult for many, and we need to remember that when approaching the conversation. Let them feel in control of communicating their wishes and let them make the decisions. Reflect upon who you are starting the conversation with and fine tune your approach to better suit the individual and their personality.
Make a List
It’s easy to forget everything that you wanted to discuss when emotions come into play. If you have a lot to cover, it’s always a good idea to create a list of your talking points to ensure you do not miss something important or forget the details.
Use Relevant Stories
Celebrity estates, and news stories are great segways into talking about death and estate plans. “Did you know that Prince’s estate took six years to wrap up?!” or “can you believe a German Shepherd inherited five hundred million dollars?!” This is a lighter way to ease into the conversation and to get everyone engaged.
Use Your Own Experiences
Your own life experiences are another great tool to lead into this conversation. Maybe a colleague has just gone through a death, and it’s been an eye-opening experience for you, or perhaps you have started your own estate planning journey and have realized how little you know about your loved ones’ plans. By starting the conversation with your own experiences and feelings, it creates a more comfortable and supportive atmosphere for the other people to open up.
Talking about death does not need to be taboo, and these conversations are crucial to have. It is vital to maintain communication over time, especially as things in life and estate plans change!
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This blog is not intended to be legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you require legal advice, please contact a legal professional concerning your particular circumstances.