The Benefits of an Open Dialog About Estate Planning

Estate planning is a difficult topic of conversation to broach. No one likes to think about their own mortality and it can be difficult for family members to grapple with the idea of losing a loved one.

However, it is far more advantageous to have an open dialog about estate planning issues than to procrastinate or try to keep your wishes secret. Here are just a few examples of the benefits of having these difficult conversations:

• Making your intentions clear: From the perspective of the survivors, it is important for them to understand your intentions and why you’ve made the decisions you have with your estate plan. This may prevent potential conflict regarding your decisions after your passing and make sure there are no surprises once it comes time for them to review your will and trust.
• Ensuring comfortability of nominated tasks: As part of your estate planning you may assign family members or close friends to take on certain roles. Being open with your intentions about these roles helps you gauge their comfort level. For example, does the nominated guardian of your minor children under your will feel comfortable acting as guardian to any minor children should such worst-case scenario arise?
• Empowering your family: Getting your family involved in the conversation creates a sense of empowerment, because you are all collectively safeguarding each other’s future rather than leaving it up for the courts to decide.
• Helping your family make important decisions: Your chosen healthcare agent may be tasked with making some difficult decisions about your healthcare in the event you become incapacitated. Having open conversations with them and leaving behind clear, detailed instructions about your wishes makes those decisions significantly easier to make and decreases any guesswork.

It’s important to keep your family informed as you make estate planning decisions that will affect them. For more tips about how to have these difficult conversations, contact a skilled Tampa estate planning lawyer at BaumannKangas Estate Law.