How to Help Your Aging Parents with Their Estate Plans

 Posted on February 07, 2019 in Estate Planning

If you have aging parents, you have probably already noticed a certain amount of role reversal. As children grow to adults and parents get older, it sometimes becomes the child’s job to help his or her parents manage life’s challenges. If you have worried that your parents do not have adequate estate plans in place but are unsure of how to broach the subject, experts have some tips to help.

The Risk of Dying Without a Will

Although they are arguably one of the most important documents a person could write, many people pass away without ever having written a will. When the world famous singer Aretha Franklin died last year at age 76, she had no will or trust to direct how her assets should be handled. Her lawyer explains that he encouraged her to draft a will or trust for years, but she never did. Her four children must now endure a public probate process which could take years. Passing away without a will leaves private decisions up to strangers and impersonal state laws. It can also have a negative financial impact on the decedent’s estate and his or her surviving family.

Start with the “Why” of Estate Planning

When you bring up the idea of creating an estate plan to your parents, make sure they understand why is it so important to have a will. Encouraging your aging parents to draft a trust or will is not about trying to gain more of their money. It is about honoring their final wishes and not leaving important decisions up to strangers. If you have friends whose parents died without an estate plan, you may be able to use their struggle through probate as an example of the turmoil that can result from failure to plan. Remind parents that estate planning allows them to govern who is in charge of their money, designate beneficiaries, ensure their final wishes are fulfilled, and minimize estate taxes.

Be Compassionate and Patient

Asking people to face their own mortality is a tremendous request. Be patient with your parents if they become awkward or unreceptive when discussing estate plans. Taking breaks when the conversation gets heated or overwhelming may be better than attempting the dialogue all at once. Setting some ground rules such as “only one person speaks at a time” or “no insults” can be helpful for families who tend to argue.

Contact a Compassionate DuPage County Estate Planning Attorney for Help

Fortunately, you do not have to face the complex world of estate planning alone. For quality legal advice about wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents, contact the experienced Lombard estate planning lawyers at A. Traub & Associates. Call 630-426-0196 to schedule an appointment today.

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/22/entertainment/aretha-franklin-will/index.html

https://privatewealth.usbank.com/insights/family-discussions-estate-planning