The loss of a parent can be a traumatic experience, and it can be even more stressful if you aren’t sure how to settle their affairs. If your parent lacks a will or trust, their estate will likely be distributed per Florida intestacy laws. If your parent does have estate plan documents in place, it’s important to know where they are and understand what they instruct surviving loved ones to do.
How to have estate planning conversations with your parents
It’s important for your parents to know that you want to have this conversation for their benefit. You can establish your intent by mentioning how much you love your parents and want to see them live a comfortable lifestyle in their old age. You can then shift the conversation to topics such as where they want to live after retirement or what would happen if they were to become incapacitated.
If necessary, stress the fact that you don’t want or need anything from your parents and that you are simply making sure that they can live their lives in a proactive manner. Your parents may also feel more at ease knowing that their estate will be adequately managed after they pass away.
Involve other family members
It may be easier to talk about estate planning if you do so with the help of other family members. If you have adult siblings, you may want to ask them to take part in such a conversation. In addition to making the conversation less awkward for all involved, it can also help to ensure that everyone is on the same page as it relates to what your parents want or need going forward.
A thorough estate plan can help to ensure that your loved ones are taken care of now and in the future. Having regular estate planning conversations can help to ensure that their wishes are heard, understood and can be implemented in a timely manner.