Have you had “The Talk” with your loved ones?
Many of my clients are concerned that their elderly parents do not have an adequate estate plan. They tell me that their folks are private or just don’t want to talk about death.
Here are some tips to help you talk to your elderly parents:
- Don’t ask them if they have a Will – ask them if they have made a “plan”. This sidesteps the emotional and uncomfortable topic of “who gets what when they die”.
- Ask them to identify the people they deal with: attorney, financial planner, accountant, insurance brokers.
- Who do they want to be appointed to take care of their affairs if they get sick or pass away? This will lead to talks about the Will, Power of Attorney, etc.
- Ask about insurance policies. Do they have life insurance? Long-term care insurance? Many an adult child has paid for long term nursing care not knowing there was adequate insurance in place!
- Discuss end-of-life wishes. This topic is always emotional but will lead to a discussion of a Living Will – the document that will ensure that your parents are not kept alive artificially even though there is no hope of recovery. Do they want to be cremated? Donate organs? What kind of memorial service do they want?
These conversations will likely be tough and emotional no matter what strategy you use, but “The Talk” is key to ensure an effective estate plan.
Call the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms at 386.256.4882 to learn more. We are currently offering free consultations via video conference to assist you with your needs.
This blog post is not case-specific and is provided only for educational purposes and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Blog topics may or may not be updated and entries may be out-of-date at the time you view them.
