6 tips for navigating the “estate-planning talk”

On this blog we frequently discuss what problems can occur during the process of estate administration in Florida. But what are someways you can prevent problematic issues from occuring before the estate administration process? One of the most important things you can do is to discuss your estate plans with the people whom you wish to include in your estate.

The Week has published 6 useful tips for have the “Estate Planning” talk:

1. Choose the right people for the right roles. One common mistake people often make in the estate planning process is to base their decisions on what they think their family members would want, rather than what their own wishes truly are, particularly when it comes to assigning roles and responsibilities. Instead, you should take into consideration who you truly believe would be best at handling tough responsibilities — be it your health care proxy, financial power of attorney, the guardian for your children, or the executor of your will (West Palm Beach) — and ideally with guidance from an estate-planning professional (Broward).
2. Set the tone of the talk. Depending on your family dynamic, you can keep the discussion a purely family affair or opt for a more formal talk and enlist the help of an estate attorney (Fort Lauderdale), who can act as a facilitator.
3. Prepare your paperwork. Once you’ve figured out who you want handling the key roles related to your estate, get the necessary estate documents drafted in order to officially cement your wishes.
4. Prep your answers ahead of time. This includes being prepared to give clear answers as to why you chose a particular person for a specific duty, and what your goals were in setting up your estate plan.
5. Keep discord at bay. While death and money are never fun topics to discuss over dinner, remember that this is about creating an intimate and positive experience for your family. The goal is to let them know that you care about securing their futures, as well as give them a chance to let you know they care about following through on your wishes.
6. Remember that it’s an ongoing discussion. While an estate plan may seem very final, a lot can change by the time it will need to be implemented. For this reason, it’s important for family members to understand that, as circumstances change, you may be updating your decisions along the way, so don’t feel pressured to lay out every single detail in your initial meeting.

Do you agree with this list?  Have you had any personal experience with discussing your estate planning decisions with your family and loved ones?  If so, leave your own tips in the comments below.