Don’t Procrastinate: Talk with Your Family and Your Estate Planning Attorney Today
There’s no perfect time to broach the subject of estate planning with your family. We all know that everyone passes away eventually, but many of us often want to conveniently forget that reality. You face a decision. Take the initiative to start a family discussion about estate planning or put it off until later. Most people do the latter. But that means opening your family up to some really unpleasant consequences in the future. That is why, unappealing as it may seem at first, the perfect time to schedule your family meeting is now.
The short- and long-term value of calling a family meeting
- Procrastination is often the biggest obstacle to successful estate planning. When did you last update or review your estate plan. Did you discuss it with family?
- The best way to begin usually isn’t to talk about specific documents. Start with wills, trusts, and Powers of Attorney (POA) or assets. Rather, it’s to have a conversation with your family about goals, plans, and hopes for the future.
- In the short term, you’ll meaningfully connect with your family and express the care for them that your estate plan represents. Sleep more soundly knowing your family understands your plan.
How to get started on securing your family’s future
An estate plan can help empower your family’s goals by providing a framework for the effective passing of wealth from this generation to the next. But start the conversation with family. It starts with meeting with your estate planning attorney to get your plan up to date and continues with a discussion about your plan with your family, especially those who are designated to serve as successor trustees, executors, and agents.
It’s much better to start this discussion while everyone is still here (and doing well) rather than waiting until after a loss or significant medical issue. After all, no one is psychic—it’s much easier to carry out someone’s wishes if they’ve been explicitly stated and discussed beforehand. And when everyone in the family knows what to expect in the event of a death in the family, they can spend that time focused on supporting one another and grieving rather than scrambling with paperwork. In some cases, sharing the reasons behind your plan can even eliminate or minimize conflict that sadly too often occurs after the death of a parent or grandparent.
Schedule a meeting before the end of the year
With a new school year starting, you’re probably already starting to think about life in 2020. Now is the time to organize your thoughts so that, in addition to the merriment of the coming holiday season, family gatherings can include a discussion about what’s next for the family’s estate planning. Give us a call today so we can get you ready to cover all the important points with your family. You‘ll be able to rest easy and focus on quality time together when you have an organized plan.
About Skvarna Law Firm in Glendora and Upland, California
A skilled attorney can assist with your estate plan. Contact us today to learn about your options (909) 608-7671. We operate offices in Glendora and Upland, California. We provide legal services for individuals living in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties. This includes the cities of Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Colton, Rialto, Chino, Chino Hills, Glendora, Claremont, Montclair, Pomona, La Verne, San Dimas, Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Diamond Bar, Walnut, La Puente, Corona, Norco & Mira Loma. Visit SkvarnaLaw.com to learn more.
