How to Discuss Your Estate Planning Wishes With Your Family

Estate planning can be a difficult topic to discuss. After all, it’s understandable to not want to think about your own mortality.

However, discussing your estate plan with your family is an important part of making sure your wishes are carried out. It also allows you to work through potential issues or arguments among family members while you are still alive, preventing surprises and strife after your death.

Here are a few tips for having these conversations with your family members.

• Be tactful: Don’t just spring the topic on unsuspecting family members. Be mindful of where and when you have the conversation. Make sure it’s not a surprise and that everyone involved is in a state to have the conversation.
• Expect emotions: As unpleasant as it may be for you to consider your own mortality, it will also be unpleasant for those who love you to think about your passing. They may not have spent much time thinking about it before, and might get emotional or uncomfortable with the discussions that follow.
• Get everyone involved: Make sure you communicate with everyone you want involved so no one feels left out or unappreciated.
• Work with an attorney: Attorneys will not only guide you to some appropriate decisions to make for your estate planning, but can also help you formulate answers to some difficult questions your family members might have for you. It can even be helpful to have a conversation with an attorney before speaking to your family to go over some scenarios regarding how they might react.

For more tips about discussing estate planning with your family members, contact an experienced Tampa, FL attorney at BaumannKangas Estate Law.