A will and other aspects of estate planning protect your financial interests upon your passing. However, no one wants to think about their mortality, which is why so many individuals fail to put a will in place. If you’re the child of an elderly parent, you may be looking for ways to approach this topic with your loved one. While the conversation may not be comfortable to have, you can ease into it. Explore a few tips below to get started.

How to Discuss Estate Planning

1. Prepare for Multiple Conversations

Simply approaching the topic of a will, power of attorney, or executor is uncomfortable, so don’t be surprised if your parents brush it off at first. You should start with a normal conversation. Many children wait until a serious health issue or injury has developed; you should have the talk when your parents are in sound health. Open the door for future conversations by bringing the subject up casually to get your parents thinking about it.

2. Make It a Collaborative Subject

You don’t want your parents to feel as if you’re only wondering who will be left what amount, so take a collaborative approach with other family members to show you intend to help them. For instance, you should let them know you want to be informed about who is responsible for which roles, such as who has power of attorney for making healthcare decisions on their behalf.

3. Get Professional Help

Taking your parents’ word about medical or financial decisions isn’t enough. You should also have their estate planning wishes drawn up in legal documents prepared by professionals. If your parents are hesitant, offer to bring them to a lawyer’s office. You might even have your own will prepared too to make your parents more open to the process.

If you or your family members are interested in estate planning, allow The Law Offices of Bromm, Lindahl, Freeman-Caddy & Lunster to help. Their team has been helping residents of Saunders County, NE, with wills, trusts, power of attorney documents, and beneficiary designations since 1893. They’ll guide you through every step of the planning process for the utmost ease and accuracy. To learn more about their services, visit their website, or set up a consultation by calling (402) 443-3225.