Getting your estate plan together takes a lot of thought because you likely want to make sure that you have everything set up just right. Your effort may not end there. It’s usually a good idea to discuss the plan with your loved ones so there’s no confusion later.
When you’re ready to talk to them about your estate plan, choose a calm time in a quiet place. This is a discussion that might be emotional, so it’s not something that you should do in public or when the conversation might be rushed.
Plan what you want to say
It’s a good idea to have the estate plan with you so you can refer to it and ensure that you’re providing the proper information. Before you meet with them, you may want to make a note about what you want to talk about. This should at least include the general structure of the plan, who will handle the estate and how medical decisions will be made.
Prepare to discuss your specific wishes
You may need to take a little time to discuss things that might lead to disagreements. For example, if you leave your granddaughter the stained glass butterfly from your kitchen, you may want to explain why if that’s something that everyone will fight over because of the sentimental value.
Be ready to answer questions
Your loved ones may have questions about your estate plan. This might have to do with exactly how you want certain things to be handled or why you made the choices you made. Being ready to answer those can help you to clarify while you still can.
Ensuring your estate plan is legally binding is important. This is your chance to make sure that your wishes are followed. Working with someone familiar with estate planning and how you should set up yours is beneficial.
